This weekend, one of the quirkiest characters in the UFC, Merab Dvalishvili, will fight for the organization’s championship belt. The Georgian fighter will try to take the title from American Sean O’Malley. This will be the main fight in Merab’s career. This is the first time he has come so close to the bantamweight championship.

Dvalishvili, who openly called our country an enemy, is unlikely to be supported by Russian fans. Most of our martial arts fans would rather directly wish the Georgian athlete defeat, although in the fight with O’Malley Merab’s chances of success are high.

Despite his recent confident victories, Merab’s career in the best league in the world did not work out right away. Dvalishvili lost his first two fights in the UFC and was on the verge of being fired.

Dramatic defeat

Dvalishvili’s second fight in the UFC was especially memorable. In 2018, the Georgian shared the octagon with American Ricky Simon. The result of the fight was scandalous and caused a lot of controversy.

Merab looked better throughout the fight and was leading the way to victory until he was caught in a choke hold at the very end of the third round. After an unsuccessful pass to the legs from Dvalishvili, Simon deftly threw a “guillotine” around his opponent’s neck, turned him over on his back and began to stretch him.

Ricky Simon chokes Merab Dvalishvili / Photo: © Patrick Smith / Contributor / UFC / Gettyimages.ru

Merab resisted for almost a minute and eventually held out until the final gong. However, after Simon released the hold, Dvalishvili looked so bad that he needed medical help. They brought Merab to his senses and helped him stand up. Watching this action, the referee doubted whether this fight should be judged on points.

After much deliberation, it was decided to give the victory to Simon, since the judges considered that the Georgian was passed out. Dvalishvili’s team appealed this decision, but the appeal was rejected.

Road to title fight

We must give Merab his due: after the disappointing defeat, he did not give up, but began to churn out victories one after another. Dvalishvili dealt with his opponents in a dominant style in almost every fight, and his winning streak already totals 10 fights.

Merab Dvalishvili / Photo: © Chris Unger / Contributor / UFC / Gettyimages.ru

In the last two fights, former UFC bantamweight champions Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo were defeated. Moreover, he won both by unanimous decision.

The Georgian had a great chance to finally become a UFC champion. Good physical shape, an outstanding series of victories, experience – all this hints to Merab: either now or never. Let’s see if Dvalishvili can tackle and wear down his opponent in his signature style. If O’Malley can withstand the starting pressure of the Georgian fighter and is able to remain standing, the likelihood of a knockout by Sean will increase sharply.

Watch the live broadcast of the UFC 306 tournament on Sunday from 2:30 (Moscow time) on the Match! Fighter”, from 5:00 – on Match TV.