Merab Dvalishvili is poised and eager for a chance to compete for the UFC bantamweight championship.
With a remarkable 10-fight winning streak under his belt, Dvalishvili believes he has earned his shot at UFC gold. His consistent dominance in the men’s 135-pound weight class has set a new divisional record, culminating in his recent victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Despite starting his UFC journey with two losses in late 2017, Dvalishvili has proven his mettle and skill over time.
Dvalishvili’s path to the title was somewhat hindered by the championship reign of his close friend and teammate, Aljamain Sterling, from March 2021 to August 2023. Now, with Sean O’Malley as the reigning champion, Dvalishvili sees himself as the rightful contender. Following O’Malley’s successful win against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299, it’s anticipated that Dvalishvili will be next in line for a shot at the title. Dvalishvili envisions a striking finish in his favor if the fight materializes, confident in his ability to overcome the renowned knockout artist.
Reflecting on his aspirations during an interview with The Schmo, Dvalishvili expressed his readiness and determination to seize the opportunity presented.
“His last fight was good against Chito, but now he has to challenge himself and fight me,”
“I’m just gonna fight. I’m just gonna do my best and of course, I’m gonna always focus on winning. I’m ready for everything. I’m getting better everywhere, even striking, grappling, jiu-jitsu. I put a lot of hard work [in] and we will see. Don’t be surprised, I may knock him out because he is very confident and I have some skills. I’m getting better and I’m training and I can knock out O’Malley, I believe so.”
While Vera’s rematch with Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 was fueled by their past encounter in August 2020, Dvalishvili remains focused on his own journey to championship contention. Despite occasional drama outside the octagon, Dvalishvili’s priority has always been his performance inside it, consistently delivering victories. Amidst the verbal exchanges and rivalry within the bantamweight division, Dvalishvili maintains respect for Sean O’Malley and acknowledges his impressive redemption against Vera.
“We all see him asking to fight like last Saturday, all strike fights, he did very good. He did very good against grapplers before. Let’s see how he’s gonna do with me, but I’m the next guy.
“We are the two best guys in the division. He’s champion, I’m No. 1. We all know I have 10-fight win streak. Let’s find out. Let’s give people what they want.”
