UFC 311 Rewind: Merab Dvalishvili Makes Case as UFC’s All-Time Greatest Bantamweight

One title defense into his championship reign, and bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili already has a legitimate claim as the division’s all-time greatest fighter.

Extending his historic win streak to 12, which includes a UFC best 11-straight victories at 135 pounds, Dvalishvili bested rival Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, delivering a record-breaking performance that has many wondering if anyone in the world can match up with “The Machine.”

DISRESPECTED AT LARGE

With only six weeks to prepare for his UFC 311 co-main event against Nurmagomedov, the younger cousin of Khabib, Dvalishvili was dismissed by pundits and a large chunk of the media. Bookmakers had “The Machine” listed as a +220 underdog, despite four-consecutive victories over former UFC champions: Sean O’Malley, Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo.

The disrespect was palpable, and Dvalishvili not only made everyone eat their words. He did so emphatically, sweeping the final three rounds on every judges’ scorecard, taking Nurmagomedov down seven times to break Georges St-Pierre’s coveted UFC takedown record in the process.

Imagine that. Merab Dvalishvili, who lost his first two UFC fights, suddenly has his name etched in history above GSP, one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in the Octagon. Merab Dvalishvili, an immigrant from the Republic of Georgia, who faced one of the toughest paths to a UFC title, is suddenly the UFC’s all-time bantamweight leader in strikes landed and control time.

DEFINING A GOAT

When asked about his status as the UFC’s greatest bantamweight of all-time, Dvalishvili remains humble, deflecting praise to his teammate, friend, and cornerman, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

“Aljamain Sterling is the greatest,” Dvalishvili quickly offered following his unanimous decision win at UFC 311. “And don’t forget Dominick Cruz is still one of the best.”

Examining Dvalishvili in comparison with former champs like Sterling and Cruz, the G.O.A.T. debate clearly requires a deeper conversation with meaningful data and statistics. But in terms of quality victories over highly decorated opponents, no one else’s resume touches Merab’s. Not to mention, the bantamweight division is more competitive than it has ever been.

So, what defines the greatest of all-time? It can’t always be based on head-to-head results because fighters compete in different eras, and there is no such science as MMA math (regardless of what some “experts” try to tell you). So what criteria can one compile to determine greatest-ness? Wins? Records? Title defenses?

Or how about some combination of them all?

RANKING THE BANTAMWEIGHTS

Of the nine men to hold the UFC bantamweight title outright, Dvalishvili already owns wins over three of them (O’Malley, Cejudo, and Yan), which requires some fantasy matchmaking to examine how Merab stacks up against the other champs: Cruz, Renan Barao, T.J. Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt, and Sterling.

Stylistically, it’s fair to ascertain that Barao and Garbrandt would have difficulty handling Dvalishvili’s pace, volume, and wrestling. Cruz, Dillashaw, and Sterling, however, all have attributes that might give Merab some difficulty. In fact, in their respective primes, Cruz, Dillashaw, and Sterling would all be favored against “The Machine.” All three have exceptional defensive wrestling to handle Merab’s takedown attempts. Cruz and Dillashaw also have a significant striking edge.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean any of them are the bantamweight G.O.A.T.

MERAB’S MERITS

Above all, Merab Dvalishvili has the heart of a champion, other worldly determination, and an indefatigable will. But he also has the best cardio and conditioning in the history of mixed martial arts. Seriously.

Aptly nicknamed “The Machine” due to his non-stop pace, Dvalishvili joked how he wished the fight against Nurmagomedov had been longer. “I can go 10 rounds,” he offered, adding that “I’m getting better and I’m still gonna get better.” But over the course of 25 minutes, he demonstrated why he is the greatest bantamweight of all time. It was that championship mentality that helped Dvalishvili come back against Umar, after losing the first two rounds.

Quite simply, he was perfect for the final 15 minutes of the fight, not only dominating Nurmagomedov inside the cage, but also entertaining the sold-out crowd at the Intuit Dome.

G.O.A.T.

It’s like this. Would Merab beat every bantamweight champion in history? No. Does he have the most title defenses in the division? Also, no. But does he have a decorated enough resume, complete with historic scalps and UFC records? No doubt.

He also has some time to add to his accolades. And quite simply, who is going to stop him?

With wins over the top three current bantamweight contenders, Dvalishvili does not appear to have a rightful suitor for his 135-pound title at the moment. Looking further down the UFC’s top-15, the options are even bleaker. There is no one currently in Merab’s orbit, or even stratosphere.

Hardcore fans will welcome an immediate title shot for former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, but there are mountains to move and contracts to void before that fight can be made. So what is Merab to do? Move down to 125 and fight Alexandre Pantoja?

While a move down to flyweight may have once been imaginable for Merab, “The Machine” is now pushing the limits of the bantamweight limit, gaining 17-percent of his weight back before stepping into the cage on fight night at 156.8 pounds. So, that doesn’t appear to be an option either.

What is most likely, is that Dvalishvili will sit on the sidelines for the remainder of 2025, resting up and touring the belt around the world while another challenger distinguishes themselves. But will they be any match for Merab?

For sure they will, although oddsmakers will probably still list Merab as the underdog.

MERAB DVALISHVILI 12-FIGHT WIN STREAK:

• def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (UFC 311)
• def. Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision (UFC 306)
• def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (UFC 298)
• def. Petr Yan via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili)
• def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (UFC 278)
• def. Marlos Moraes via TKO (UFC 266)
• def. Cody Stamann via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Reyes vs. Prochazka)
• def. John Dodson via unanimous decision (UFC 252)
• def. Gustavo Lopez via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo)
• def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Blachowicz 2)
• def. Brad Katona via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Iaquinta)
• def. Terrion Ware via unanimous decision (UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik)

Dan Shapiro is a writer, editor, musician, and producer currently based in Los Angeles. In addition to covering some of the biggest fights in combat sports history, he’s also hunted down the world’s best sushi, skied the northern hemisphere in July, and chronicled Chinese underground music for publications like CNN, the New York Daily News, VICE, and Time Out. Dan also conjured up a ghost at the Chateau Marmont while out on assignment for RoadTrippers. Follow him on X/Twitter here.
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