The UFC’s lightweight king watched on as Merab Dvalishvili did what he does best.
Dvalishvili continued his charge toward greatness at Saturday’s UFC 320 pay-per-view, where he remained on the bantamweight throne with yet another dominant display.
After a strong start from his challenger in round one, Dvalishvili took over and beat Cory Sandhagen comfortably on the scorecards, despite a rally from the American in the dying moments of the co-main event.
Many are in awe of ‘The Machine’, who appears unstoppable and never fails to live up to his nickname. And among Dvalishvili’s biggest supporters is one of his prominent fellow countrymen who also holds UFC gold.
Ilia Topuria praises Merab Dvalishvili after another emphatic performance at UFC 320
Both Dvalishvili and Georgian-Spanish star Ilia Topuria have been making statement after statement inside the Octagon during their respective title-fight runs.
While ‘The Machine’ rules over the 135-pound division with an iron fist, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 this past June to become lightweight titleholder and achieve two-division glory.
The bantamweight champ has been full of praise for his compatriot’s performances, and ‘El Matador’ returned the favor with a lengthy post after UFC 320.
“Brother, we’ve reached the point where your victories seem almost normal,” Topuria wrote on X. “But we all know how hard it is to get there.
“I say it with pride: you’re a living legend!!!! An example of hard work, sacrifice, and heart. Beyond the fighter, you’re an incredible person, with a soul too big for your chest.
“We love you, we support you, and we’re with you every step of the way,” he concluded.
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Merab Dvalishvili could threaten Ilia Topuria’s pound-for-pound status
As Dvalishvili continues to rattle off title defenses in dominant fashion, the Georgian is building a strong case to be considered for the top spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Despite his historic winning run, Dvalishvili won’t place himself as P4P number one. The humble Georgian put Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja above him.
The official rankings have ‘The Machine’ in third, below Topuria and Makhachev. While talk of the crown has largely centered around the Dagestani’s chance to perhaps regain it by winning the welterweight title in November, Dvalishvili has certainly been making his own case.