Never has a fighter suited their moniker more than Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili served as the co-main event to Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano at UFC 311, where he put on a dominant display of cardio and grappling against Umar Nurmagomedov. The Georgian slugger forfeited the first two rounds to Nurmagomedov’s striking before using his patented pace to maul his foe in the latter rounds.
Defending his bantamweight title is one benefit, another is setting a new all-time UFC record, smashing a standard set by UFC GOAT Georges St-Pierre.
Merab Dvalishvili breaks GSP’s takedown record against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311
Entering the fight Dvalishvili had 85 takedowns across his UFC career. The all-time UFC record for takedowns was 90, set by Georges St-Pierre (GSP).
Dvalishvili struggled with Nurmagomedov’s takedown defense in the opening frames. Soon, his patented pressure began to mount, Nurmagomedov’s movement became labored and Dvalishvili imposed his will. By the end of the fight, Dvalishvili surpassed GSP’s takedown record, securing a new all-time record of 91 takedowns.
UFC 311 was Dvalishvili’s first bantamweight title defense just four months after claiming the title at UFC 306. Fans should expect Dvalishvili to continue to distance his takedown statistic from the rest of the pack; There are no active fighters anywhere near the record.
Is Merab Dvalishvili ready for the GOAT conversation?
We’re still in the infancy of Dvalishvili’s championship reign, but his route to the title is nothing to be sniffed at. On his now-12-fight winning streak, Dvalishvili defeated four current or former UFC champions in Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo (double-champ), and Sean O’Malley.
He has tough acts to follow with Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw preceding him, but a few more title defenses for Dvalishvili would certainly put him in the conversation.