UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili recently provided an unexpected response when asked to name the toughest opponent he has faced in his career.
The Georgian fighter secured his own championship title last year by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, a culmination of a career marked by numerous bouts against world-class opponents. He has since successfully defended his title twice this year: first, in a contentious decision victory over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, and then with a third-round submission against O’Malley at UFC 316.
Widely regarded by peers as one of the greatest bantamweights ever, Dvalishvili aims to extend his impressive 13-fight winning streak to 14 when he faces top contender Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320 this Saturday.
As he prepares for his upcoming title defense, Dvalishvili reflected on his extensive 24-fight career, surprisingly stating that his most formidable challenge occurred outside the UFC Octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili Names Raufeon Stots as Toughest Opponent, Overlooking Nurmagomedov and Moraes
Remarkably, Dvalishvili claimed that his toughest fight ultimately proved to be his easiest. Even after a challenging title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year, where he lost the first two rounds, Dvalishvili maintained that Nurmagomedov was not his most difficult adversary.
“It wasn’t my toughest fight,” Dvalishvili stated regarding Nurmagomedov on The W.A.D.E. Concept, adding, “He’s not the most difficult.” Instead, he asserted, “No, my toughest fight was against Raufeon Stots.”
In 2017, Dvalishvili famously knocked out Raufeon Stots with a spinning backfist in a mere 15 seconds during `Dana White’s Looking For A Fight,` earning him a coveted UFC contract. Stots, who was Dana White’s original target for a contract, remained undefeated for nearly six years after that loss, eventually becoming Bellator’s interim bantamweight champion in 2022.
Recalling the bout, Dvalishvili explained, “That was when I was defending my Ring of Combat belt in New Jersey, Atlantic City.” He further elaborated, “The guy became Bellator champion, and that was supposed to be my toughest fight. Dana White came specifically to sign him… That was my toughest fight, but I won in the easiest way.”
Marlon Moraes`s Near-Knockout Challenge
Dvalishvili has maintained an unbeaten record since his initial two UFC losses to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon in 2017 and 2018. While he secured victories, opponents like Marlon Moraes and Umar Nurmagomedov tested Dvalishvili significantly, each having moments of dominance.
In a particularly intense 2021 encounter, Moraes came close to knocking out Dvalishvili in a thrilling back-and-forth contest. However, Dvalishvili rallied to overcome the former WSOF champion, securing a TKO victory late in the second round. This win marked Dvalishvili’s most recent knockout to date.
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