Merab Dvalishvili is getting his flowers ahead of UFC 320.
Two title defenses into his career, the Georgian UFC Champion has been considered as the greatest fighter the bantamweight division has ever seen.
Dvalishvili is currently riding a 13-fight win streak into his next title fight against top contender Cory Sandhagen. The two fighters co-headline a stacked UFC 320 card in Las Vegas this Saturday.
Despite having less wins at the weight class than his fellow champions, a former titleholder believes Dvalishvili has done enough to cement himself as the bantamweight ‘GOAT’.
Aljamain Sterling says Merab Dvalishvili is already the greatest bantamweight of all time
Win, lose, or draw at UFC 320, Aljamain Sterling says his teammate Dvalishvili is the greatest to ever do it at 135 lbs.
Sterling is up there with Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw in the bantamweight ‘GOAT’ conversation.
Sterling holds on to the record for the most successful UFC title defenses at bantamweight (3), which Dvalishvili could tie with a win over Sandhagen.
“Regardless if Merab wins this fight or not, I think he’s the greatest bantamweight of all time,” Sterling said of Dvalishvili on his YouTube channel.
“I might have the most title defenses in the UFC, but he’s on a 13 fight win streak. He’s beaten five former champions, even if one of them was a repeat. Got a finish in his last fight.
“I don’t think anyone has had a run the way he has.
“Yeah, there’s Dominick Cruz. There’s the run I had, there’s the run TJ had…
“I just don’t think there’s anyone who’s done it the way that he’s done it in the UFC,” Sterling continued.
“Regardless if he gets a third title defense in a row or not, I think he is [the bantamweight GOAT] and I think this win this weekend solidifies it,” said Sterling.
Merab Dvalishvili has nine wins over eight world champions
Dvalishvili keeps adding names to his legendary resume.
As far as UFC champions go, Dvalishvili has defeated the likes of Sean O’Malley (twice), Petr Yan, Jose Aldo, as well as former two-division champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo.
That’s not all the world champions ‘The Machine’ has faced in his career.
Dvalishvili has wins over current BKFC flyweight champion John Dodson, former WSOF champion Marlon Moraes, former Bellator interim champion Raufeon Stots and former BRAVE CF champion Brad Katona, who’s the only fighter to win ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ twice.