Who is Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab Dvalishvili is a recognized Georgian professional mixed martial artist. He presently competes in the Bantamweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 13, 2022, Dvalishvili is No. 3 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Merab Dvalishvili Career
Early career
Merab began his MMA career in 2014 and competed under several promotions namely the Ring of Combat. He posted a record of 7-2 before competing in the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On December 9, 2017, Merab made his UFC debut against Frankie Saenz at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega. Dvalishvili lost the bout by a split decision. His following bout was on April 21, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee against Ricky Simon. Merab lost the bout through technical submission at the final bell. This bout earned him the Fight of the Night award. His team appealed the result on the grounds that he was not unconscious at the end of the round but the appeal was denied. He then fought Terrion Ware at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs, Oleinik on September 15, 2018. Dvalishvili won the bout by unanimous decision.
He then faced Casey Kenney at UFC Fight Nigt 167, on February 15, 2020. Merab won the bout by unanimous decision. He was expected to fight Ray Borg at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs, Calvillo on June 13, 2020. However, it was reported on June 11, 2020, that Borg withdrew from the fight and was replaced by promotional newcomer Gustavo Lopez in a catchweight fight of 140 pounds. Merab won the fight via unanimous decision. He then faced John Dodson at UFC 252, on August 15, 2020. Dvalishvili won the bout by unanimous decision.
2021-present
Merab was then expected to fight Cody Stamann at UFC on ESPN 19, on December 5, 2020. However, it was revealed on October 22, that Stamann pulled out because of undisclosed reasons, and was replaced by Raoni Barcelos. However, Raoni was removed from the contest because of a medical suspension related to his latest fight on November 7. The fight between Dvalishvili and Stamann was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021. In turn, in mid-January, Merab was forced to exit from the fight because of the struggle with the after-effects of a COVID-19 complication and was replaced by Andre Ewell.
Following a positive test for COVID-19, Ewell was pulled from the event and replaced by promotional newcomer Askar Askar, with the fight expected to take place at featherweight. However, on the day of the event, Askar was not cleared medically and the fight was canceled. The fight between Dvalishvili and Stamann was then re-scheduled at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procazka on May 1, 2021. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
He then faced Marlon Moraes at UFC 266, on September 25, 2021. Following being knocked down and nearly finished in the first round, he rallied and won the bout by TKO in round 2. This victory won him the Performance of the Night award. Dvalishvili later fought former UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 278, on August 20, 2022. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Merab was then scheduled to fight Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili on March 11, 2023.
How old is Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab Dvalishvili was born on January 10, 1991, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is aged 32 years as of 2023. He shares his birthday with popular people including Rod Stewart, Kobe Morris, Mason Mount, George Foreman, Hrithik Roshan, Cash Warren, Donald Fagen, Janet Jones, and many more.
Merab Dvalishvili Family
Who are Merab Dvalishvili’s parents?
Merab Dvalishvili was born in Tbilisi, Georgia to Georgian parents. He has kept his family and parents’ information very private and away from the spotlight.
Does Merab Dvalishvili have siblings?
Dvalishvili has not shared any information about his family and nothing is known about his siblings.
Merab Dvalishvili Education
His academic and educational qualifications and background remain a mystery as he has not shared any information with the media.
Merab Dvalishvili Spouse
Dvalishvili is currently single and unmarried and has not been linked to any previous relationships by the media. He has kept his dating life very private and nothing is known about his past relationships.
Merab Dvalishvili Children
Dvalishvili has not been linked to any relationships and is currently single, thus does not have any children of his own to date.
Merab Dvalishvili Measurements
Dvalishvili has a well-built, muscular, and athletic body with a height of 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) and weighs around 61 kg (135 lbs).
Professional grappling career
He completed 2nd in the Sambo World Championships in South Korea in 2019. Merab competed in combat sambo at 68 kilograms and lost in the finals to Russia’s Stepan Kobenov. He then fought in the main event of Fury Pro Grappling and lost a unanimous decision to Kevin Dantzler on October 29, 2021. He was booked to compete against Darren Branch in the main event of High Rollerz 23, on January 21, 2023. Dvalishvili won the match by submission with a choke from kesa-gatame.
Merab Dvalishvili Net Worth
Georgian professional mixed martial artist Dvalishvili competes in the Bantamweight division of the UFC. He has been active from 2014 to the present and trains under Ray Longo and Matt Serra. Dvalishvili has been able to garn an estimated net worth of approximately $1-5 million as of 2023.