UFC Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili rose to star row with one of the wildest comeback victories of the sport.
Merab Dvalishvili has had a dominant run in the Bantam weight division; Collecting a 12-Vecht winning streak that is introducing his return this weekend in UFC 316. Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley will collide again this Saturday in Newark in the second chapter of their UFC rivement.
But years before Dvalishvili became one of the greatest stars of the UFC, he was a relatively unknown competition in the Bantamweight Division. After winning six consecutive fights after a slow start of his UFC official period, Dvalishvili earned a big step in the competition against former title Challenger Marlon Moraes on UFC 266.
What was put on the market as an intriguing stylistic matchup to complete the UFC 266 prelims changed to one of the wildest fights in the history of UFC Bantam weight.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Marlon Moraes was a ridiculous back and forth Slugfest
Moraes wasted little time on landing some heavy legs that quickly created bags on the left leg of Dvalishvili. Halfway through the first round, Moraes Dvalishvili had to be at the wrong end of a knockout when he landed a sizzling right hand that broke his head backwards.
Moraes did not let the accelerator pedal go when he went into the bag and threw bombs at Dvalishvili, eventually earned a short knock -down during the barrage. While Dvalishvili recovered, Moraes walked down him and landed a new big blow that collapsed his opponent's position to earn a second knock-down from the first round.
Despite taking the biggest punches of Moraes, DvalishHvili was able to secure a Takedown and to get the top confirmation. At a turning point of the first round, and when seconds tapped away, Dvalishvili landed brutal hammer fists when the round ended, causing Moraes to stay stunned.
With Moraes visibly exhausted, Dvalishvili earned a large Takedown in round 2, before Moraes was completed with horrible ground and pound strikes. It was a top 'Fight of the Year' community service in 2021 and confirmed the status of Dvalishvili in the Bantamweight title photo.
Moraes, who almost finished Henry Cejudo for the then Bantamweight title on UFC 238, was not the same after the fight of Dvalishvili. He ended his career with seven consecutive losses before announcing his retirement in 2023.
Joe Rogan praised Moraes as one of the greatest bantam weights of all time to never hoist a UFC title, after Knock-Out wins on the will of Aljamain Sterling and Jimmie Rivera.
Merab Dvalishvili seems to be getting closer to the Bantamweight Goat Status on UFC 316
Now the undisputed Bantam weight champion of the UFC, Dvalishvili O'Malley seems to hand over a different title loss and his climb to continue the pound-for-pound ranks. Dvalishvili has not lost since a controversial defeat against Ricky Simon in 2018.
O'Malley will get the immediate rematch after he has fallen to Dvalishvili by a unanimous decision on UFC 306. Before he lost to Dvalishvili, O'Malley earned the belt by spreading Sterling and defending the title against Marlon Vera.
The ability of Dvalishvili to bounce back from early round problems adds another frightening element for his opponents to deal with. If O'Malley lands a big blow in the opening minutes this weekend, don't be surprised if DvalishVili is late.