Merab Dvalishvili Should Enter the Bantamweight GOAT Conversation

With 13 straight wins and a second title defense at UFC 316, 34-year-old Merab Dvalishvili is making his case as one of the greatest bantamweights ever.

Incredible Dominance

He’s nicknamed The Machine with a reason, and that reason is he’s nasty. Merab Dvalishvili (20-4-0) disposed of Sean O’Malley (18-3-0) at UFC 316 this past Saturday. It ended in a third-round submission as Dvalishvili had a successful second defense of his bantamweight title. He overwhelmed his opponent in strikes connected (141-38), significant strikes connected (52-31), and takedowns (5-0).

It wasn’t a fair fight in Newark, N.J. That’s no surprise, since the champ’s current win streak is now 13 bouts. He also remains a popular wagering proposition in UFC fight odds.  

There’s no greater compliment than a defeated foe labeling you as the “greatest bantamweight of all time.” That statement is even more meaningful if Dvalishvili first won the division belt by beating O’Malley back in UFC 306 in suburban Las Vegas last September.

The 34-year-old Georgia native (country, not state), who was 21 when he moved to the United States, is 13-2 in UFC competition. He may next be looking at a rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov, at least according to UFC boss Dana White. Dvalishvili disposed of Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in Inglewood, Calif., this past January.

Is Dvalishvili the greatest bantamweight of all time in the UFC? Dominick Cruz, with a long reign before eventually regaining his belt, may offer a differing opinion, so may Henry Cejudo and T.J. Dillashaw, another who was “belted” in the division a second time.

Note that Dvalishvili, Cruz, and Dillashaw each have/had a pair of successful title defenses. 

Here’s a primer on Merab Dvalishvili, one of the premier attractions on the UFC schedule…

Who Has Merab Dvalishvili Lost To?

As was mentioned, it’s a baker’s dozen of UFC fights victories in a row on the resume of Merab Dvalishvili. He hasn’t been a “loser” since April of 2018, against Ricky Simon in Atlantic City, N.J. That after a loss to Frankie Saenz (December 2017) at Fresno, Calif.

The two other losses were in non-UFC competition versus Stepan Kobenov (2019) and Kevin Gantzler (2021).

How Accurate is Merab Dvalishvili's Take Down?

Once again, we’re off to the always-reliable internet, which has Merab Dvalishvili with a UFC-record 92 takedowns in his career. His takedown accuracy is at 35 percent, which is one of the reasons he has several supporters when it comes to UFC fight odds.

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on UFC Fights Betting Lines?

While UFC news is the place to see who’s fighting whom, BetUS is the go-to site to find the latest UFC fights betting odds ahead of every numbered event, as well as fight night.

Looking at the board as of this mid-June writing, there’s UFC 317 later this month in Las Vegas, 

where Ilia Topuria is a solid (-417) choice over Charles Oliveira (+320) to win the vacant lightweight title. There are also some ‘future’ odds leading to UFC 318 (July in New Orleans) and UFC 319 (August in Chicago).

Remember, any odds are fluid, thus subject to change. 

Any Final Thoughts?

Those who pay attention to all the news and UFC rumors know the tale of Merab Dvalishvili. If not the current face of UFC, he’s right there. Whether it’s a rematch against Umar Nurmagomedov or another opponent, Dvalishvili’s next bout is sure to be a headliner.

Those who wager on the UFC would be wise to bookmark BetUS to find the latest odds.