Merab Dvalishvili, widely regarded as one of the most dominant bantamweight champions in UFC history, is now on the precipice of achieving another monumental milestone in his decorated career.
Following his recent impressive unanimous decision victory over formidable contender Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, Dvalishvili continues his remarkable run at the top of the bantamweight division.
This latest triumph adds Sandhagen to a growing list of significant wins during his championship tenure, which also includes victories against top talents like Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley.
Intriguingly, just one more victory for the Georgian fighter would enable him to surpass a notable record currently held by one of his closest friends and training partners.
Merab Dvalishvili Equals Aljamain Sterling`s Bantamweight Title Defense Record
Before his own impressive bantamweight reign came to an end against common opponent Sean O’Malley, current featherweight star Aljamain Sterling set the benchmark for the most consecutive successful defenses of the bantamweight title.
Sterling initially captured the title from Petr Yan in a memorable disqualification bout, then went on to defeat the Russian in a rematch. He further solidified his legacy by overcoming former champions T.J. Dillashaw and the returning Henry Cejudo, thereby establishing a new divisional record.
With his three successful championship defenses against Nurmagomedov, O’Malley, and Sandhagen, a fourth title fight win for Dvalishvili as champion would unequivocally establish him as the most prolific defending champion in the organization`s history within this weight class.
Given the notoriously challenging nature of defending a title in the bantamweight division, Dvalishvili’s accomplishments to date are already profoundly impressive.
What`s Next for Merab Dvalishvili?
Already positioning himself for a spot on the highly anticipated year-end UFC 323 card in December, the perpetually active Dvalishvili has a strong roster of contenders eager to challenge him for the top spot in the division.
Most notably, a rematch with former opponent Umar Nurmagomedov has been discussed as a potential next step for the Georgian ace, despite the closely contested nature of their initial encounter earlier this year.
However, Nurmagomedov must first navigate a high-stakes clash against the surging Mario Bautista at UFC 321 later this month in Abu Dhabi.
Despite his relative inactivity since his defeat to Dvalishvili earlier this year, Nurmagomedov has managed to retain his position as the number two ranked bantamweight contender.
Furthermore, a potential rematch with the technically proficient Petr Yan also remains a viable option for Dvalishvili, who decisively defeated the former champion just two years ago.
Neville Whittle