There are fighters who win, and then there are fighters who simply never stop coming. Merab Dvalishvili belongs to the second camp. His rise to the UFC bantamweight throne, built on a bottomless gas tank and wrestling rooted in Georgian sambo, is one of the sport’s most compelling recent stories — and his stats tell a clear part of it.
Record: 21-5-0 ·
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) ·
Weight: 135 lb (61 kg) ·
Reach: 68 in (173 cm) ·
Age: 35 (born Jan 10, 1991) ·
Nickname: The Machine
Quick snapshot
- Record: 21 wins, 5 losses (UFC Stats — official database)
- Strikes per minute: 4.42 (UFC Stats)
- Striking accuracy: 41% (UFC Stats)
- Religion not publicly documented (Wikipedia — community-edited profile)
- Next fight opponent and date unknown (Wikipedia — community-edited profile)
- Details of amateur career not provided (Wikipedia — community-edited profile)
- Born January 10, 1991 (UFC Stats)
- Won title vs Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 (2024-09-14) (UFC.com — official athlete page)
- Submitted O’Malley again at UFC 316 (2025-06-07) (UFC.com)
- No official fight booked as of mid-2025
- Potential contenders include top bantamweight ranked fighters
10 key stats, one pattern: Dvalishvili’s physical dimensions place him at the smaller end of the bantamweight division, but his output metrics — 4.42 significant strikes landed per minute and 41% accuracy — reveal a fighter who compensates for any size disadvantage with relentless volume.
The table below captures his core measurements and identifiers.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Merab Dvalishvili |
| Nickname | The Machine |
| Record | 21-5-0 |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Date of Birth | January 10, 1991 |
| Age | 35 |
| Team | Serra-Longo Fight Team |
| Stance | Orthodox |
Dvalishvili’s orthodox stance and relatively short reach (68 inches) mean he must close distance aggressively — which his wrestling and cardio allow him to do without fading.
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s fight record and career statistics?
What is his overall win-loss record?
Merab Dvalishvili holds a professional record of 21 wins against 5 losses (UFC Stats — official database). He competes in the bantamweight division and has also fought at featherweight in 2016 (Wikipedia — community-edited profile). His UFC career began with two consecutive losses before he ignited a 14-fight win streak (Official Merab Dvalishvili site — athlete’s own platform).
How many wins are by decision, submission, or KO?
- Strikes per minute (SLpM): 4.42 (UFC Stats)
- Striking accuracy: 41% (UFC Stats)
- His most notable submission came against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 — a ninja choke at 4:42 of round 3 (UFC.com — official athlete page)
What are Merab Dvalishvili’s height, weight, and reach?
What is his height?
Dvalishvili stands 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall (UFC Stats — official database). The same figure is confirmed by ESPN (major sports media).
What is his fighting weight?
He fights at 135 pounds (61 kg), the bantamweight limit (UFC Stats; ESPN).
What is his reach advantage?
His reach is 68 inches (173 cm) (UFC Stats). For context, that’s shorter than many bantamweight contenders, making his pressure-fighting style even more critical.
Dvalishvili’s shorter reach forces him to fight inside the pocket — a risk that pays off because his wrestling and cardio keep opponents from creating distance.
How did Merab Dvalishvili become the UFC bantamweight champion?
When did he win the title?
Dvalishvili captured the UFC bantamweight championship by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024 (UFC.com — official athlete page). He then defended the title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025 (UFC.com).
Who did he defeat?
His first title defense against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, ended via submission — a ninja choke at 4:42 of the third round (UFC.com). This made him the first Georgian-born champion in UFC history (Official Merab Dvalishvili site — athlete’s own platform).
What was the method of victory?
- UFC 306 (2024-09-14): win over Sean O’Malley for the title (UFC.com)
- UFC 311 (2025-01-18): retained belt vs Umar Nurmagomedov (UFC.com)
- UFC 316 (2025-06-07): submitted Sean O’Malley via ninja choke (UFC.com)
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s fighting style and background?
What martial arts does he practice?
Dvalishvili is a professional mixed martial artist and sambo practitioner (Wikipedia — community-edited profile). ESPN (major sports media) lists his fighting style as “Striker, Freestyle,” but his wrestling-heavy approach tells another story.
What is his wrestling background?
He trains at Serra-Longo Fight Team, home to several elite wrestlers (UFC.com — official athlete page). His sambo foundation provides a relentless chain-wrestling style that wears opponents down across five rounds.
What is his nickname and why?
Nicknamed “The Machine” (Wikipedia), Dvalishvili earned the moniker for his inhuman cardio. He maintains a pace that most bantamweights cannot match beyond the second round — a direct product of his wrestling-heavy sambo base.
On this day in 2025, @MerabDvalishvil defended his bantamweight title with a submission victory over Sean O’Malley at UFC 316.
— Merab Dvalishvili’s official X account (X — social media platform)
The pattern: Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure and takedown chains force opponents to fight on his terms, making every round a test of endurance.
How old is Merab Dvalishvili?
When was he born?
Merab Dvalishvili was born on January 10, 1991 (UFC Stats — official database; ESPN). He was born in Vani, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (Wikipedia — community-edited profile).
What is his current age?
He is 35 years old (ESPN). At 35, he is fighting in his physical prime for a bantamweight — a division where age often catches up late, but Dvalishvili’s style relies on endurance, not speed.
At 35, Dvalishvili faces a ticking clock — but his wrestling-heavy, cardio-first game ages better than speed-dependent striking. The real question is how long his body can sustain the 14-fight win streak pace.
Related reading: UFC White House 2026: Freedom 250 Fight Card & Tickets · Tim Tszyu vs Anthony Velazquez: Result, Scorecards and More
For a more extensive breakdown of Dvalishvili’s career, including his upcoming fights and fight-by-fight stats, extensive breakdown of Dvalishvilis career offers a comprehensive timeline that no fan should miss.
Frequently asked questions
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s nationality?
He is Georgian and American (Wikipedia — community-edited profile). He was born in Vani, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union.
What team does Merab Dvalishvili train with?
He trains at Serra-Longo Fight Team (UFC.com — official athlete page).
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s nickname?
His nickname is “The Machine” (Wikipedia).
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s stance?
He fights from an Orthodox stance (UFC Stats — official database).
What is Merab Dvalishvili’s striking accuracy?
His striking accuracy is 41% (UFC Stats).
Who is Merab Dvalishvili fighting next?
No official fight has been booked as of mid-2025. His next opponent is unconfirmed.
How did Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan end?
Dvalishvili defeated Petr Yan by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night on March 11, 2023.
Is Merab Dvalishvili the UFC bantamweight champion?
Yes, he is the reigning UFC bantamweight champion ( Noah Foster is Senior Reporter at Australian News Desk, covering breaking stories and explainers.Related stories
