Never has a fighter fit their name better than Merab 'The Machine' Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili was the co-main event of Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano at UFC 311, where he put on a dominant display of cardio and wrestling against Umar Nurmagomedov. The Georgian slugger squandered the first two rounds under Nurmagomedov's onslaught before using his patented pace to tear his foe apart in the closing rounds.
Defending his bantamweight title is one benefit, another is setting a new all-time UFC record, breaking a benchmark set by UFC GOAT Georges St-Pierre.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Merab Dvalishvili breaks GSP's takedown record against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311
Dvalishvili entered the fight and had 85 takedowns during his UFC career. The all-time UFC record for takedowns was 90, set by Georges St-Pierre (GSP).
Dvalishvili struggled against Nurmagomedov's takedown defense in the opening frames. Soon his patented pressure began to increase, 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, coming just four months after he claimed the belt at UFC 306. Fans can expect Dvalishvili to continue to distance his takedown stats from the rest of the pack; There are no active fighters close to the record.
Is Merab Dvalishvili ready for the GOAT interview?
We're still in the early stages of Dvalishvili's championship reign, but his route to the title is nothing to sniff at. During his now 12-fight winning streak, Dvalishvili defeated four current or former UFC champions: Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo (double champion) and Sean O'Malley.
He has tough work to do with Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw ahead of him, but a few more title defenses for Dvalishvili would certainly put him in the conversation.
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