Merab Dvalishvili has detailed how he was forced to work in a variety of odd jobs while trying to kick start his UFC career.
The Georgian has seemed unbeatable for the past six years, and is currently riding an 11-fight win streak that led him to bantamweight gold earlier this mont at UFC 306. However, he started his career in the promotion with two losses, and admits he was ‘broke’ while trying to forge his way forward.
Dvalishvili’s career was saved by a fight of the night effort against Ricky Simon that he lost, but earned him another shot at the promotion. With the $50,000 bonus he received for that 2018 bout he was able to quit his job and make the move forward into an incredible winning run.
- Who is Dana White? All you need to know about the CEO and President of the UFC
Merab Dvailishvili details the many jobs he worked early in his UFC career
Merab Dvalishvili recently appeared on former world champion Jake Shields’ podcast Fight Back. The pair discussed his career from the early days through to winning UFC gold, which took him years of struggle after moving from Georgia to America.
“First I was a demolition man,” he told the former Strikeforce champion. “Then, of course, I am a handy man and I little by little, became a carpenter. Basically I was doing everything, not plumbing but everything else; framing, windows, doors, roofing, floor, concrete, whatever you want.”
Asked when he was able to stop working and focus on MMA, he noted that it was only due to having other jobs shut off in the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 that he decided to go full-time. “So, I lost my first fight in UFC,” he explained.
“And we know how UFC pay – it’s not well in the beginning. $10,000 and you still have to pay your manager and some expenses. I [bought a] car. I was driving very old car, and then no money. In my second fight, I got bonus, I had a controversial loss.
“So I got the bonus but I take off and stopped working. But when my next fight comes, I was broke again because I spent all this money. And I’m like, ‘now what?’ When I win the next one, I keep this money and I stay working, because I don’t want [to be broke] again.”
Merab Dvalishvili explains why he moved to Las Vegas for career
Dvalishvili began training in America under the legendary former welterweight champion Matt Serra and head coach Ray Longo. Despite leaving for Las Vegas, he is still cornered by the Serra/Longo team and involves them heavily in his camps.
“Matt Serra and Ray Longo are still my coaches and my team and I represent them,” he began, before Shields noted that in Las Vegas he is able to run his own camp with a wealth of fighters and coaches around.
“I’m training at Syndicate now and John Wood’s style has helped me a lot the last couple of training camps. He has become my coach now, my three coaches are Matt Serra, Ray Longo and John Wood because I train here.
“It’s so much easier in Vegas, you have UFC PI so when you fight in the UFC it’s easy, you don’t have to cook, you don’t have to think, you just pick up food and then go there and eat. Many fighters come here, everything is close, there’s so many benefits for the fighters.”
Merab Dvalishvili reacts to Sean O’Malley’s outbursts
In the aftermath of his win over Sean O’Malley at Sphere in Las Vegas, Dvalishvili’s feud with the brash American doesn’t appear to have ended. O’Malley now claims he was robbed by the judges, while Dvalishvili has mocked his behavior.
“I’m not mad or something,” he continued. “I can have fun now. Make fun with him. I would love to rematch with him.
“I think it’s going to be so next time, I will finish him. But how I beat him, I don’t even think he will take a next challenge.”
- Who is Conor McGregor? Step inside the hedonistic life of UFC’s ‘notorious’ bad boy and legendary double champ