Merab Dvalishvili has defeated his third former UFC champion in a row at UFC 298.
“The Machine” endured a tough first round with Henry Cejudo, only to completely dismantle the former double-champ in the second and third rounds. Dvalishvili used his inhuman cardio as his best weapon, showcasing spectacular grit and rag-dolling the gold medallist Olympian like a playtoy. As Buffer read the scorecards, Dvalishvili shrugged at the 29-28 announcement, Cejudo certainly amassed control time in the first round, but the Georgian scored the better strikes.
It was a risky fight for Dvalishvili, who was fully entitled to a bantamweight title shot after a similar performance against Petr Yan in 2023. The Georgian powerhouse set his title aspirations aside while his friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling sat on the bantamweight throne, but he now targets the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March.
With this victory, Dvalishvili extends his UFC win streak to 10. If the bantamweight division wasn’t on notice already, they should be now. “Dvalishvili “The Machine” showcases all the fundamental skills of a well-rounded mixed martial artist: Grit, Cardio, Pace, and Striking. He will be a tall task for any bantamweight to tackle.
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