Merab Dvalishvili gave a shocking answer when asked about the toughest opponent of his career.
Georgia’s Dvalishvili fought world champion after world champion before he became one himself last year with a title win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306.
Since then, Dvalishvili has defended the title twice this year in a closely-contested decision against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and a third-round submission of O’Malley at UFC 316.
Already considered as the greatest bantamweight of all time by a fellow champion, Dvalishvili looks to extend his winning streak to 14 when he takes on top contender Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320 this Saturday.
Ahead of the title fight, Dvalishvili has looked back on his 24-fight career, admitting his biggest challenge took place outside of the UFC Octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili says Raufeon Stots is his toughest opponent, not Umar Nurmagomedov
The toughest fight of Dvalishvili’s career ended up being his easiest.
Despite losing the first two rounds against Umar Nurmagomedov in their title fight from earlier this year, Dvalishvili refused to call the top contender his best opponent to date.
“It wasn’t my toughest fight,” Dvalishvili said of Nurmagomedov on The W.A.D.E. Concept.
“He’s not the most difficult,” Dvalishvili added.
“No, my toughest fight was against Raufeon Stots,” Dvalishvili revealed.
Dvalishvili knocked out Raufeon Stots with a spinning backfist in 15 seconds on ‘Dana White’s Looking For A Fight’ in 2017. Dvalishvili was awarded a UFC contract for the KO.
Stots, the fighter White initially came to see, didn’t lose another fight for nearly six years and went on to become Bellator’s interim bantamweight champion in 2022.
“That was when I was defending my Ring of Combat belt in New Jersey, Atlantic City,” Dvalishvili recalled of his title fight with Stots.
“The guy became Bellator champion and that was supposed to be my toughest fight against opponent, but Dana White came specially for him. He was supposed to sign him…
“That was my toughest fight, but I win in the easiest way,” Dvalishvili added.
Marlon Moraes nearly knocked out Merab Dvalishvili in 2021
Dvalishvili hasn’t lost since dropping his first two UFC fights against Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon in 2017 and 2018.
Dvalishvili was pushed to the limit in his wins over Marlon Moraes and Umar Nurmagomedov, who had their moments against Dvalishvili.
Moraes nearly knocked out Dvalishvili in their back-and-forth war in 2021, but Dvalishvili outlasted the former WSOF champion, TKO’ing him near the end of the second round.
This was Dvalishvili’s most recent knockout win.