Merab Dvalishvili, known as “The Machine,” is the Georgian-American UFC bantamweight champ who’s all about relentless wrestling and endless cardio. He’s dominated the division with takedowns for days and big wins over top guys, making him one of the most exciting fighters right now. Let’s dive into his story with the latest stats as of early 2026.
Merab Dvalishvili’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Merab Dvalishvili |
| Nickname | The Machine |
| Date of Birth | January 10, 1991 |
| Age | 35 years |
| Birthplace | Vani village, Tbilisi, Georgia |
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox Christianity |
| Nationality | Georgian, American |
| Height | 5’6″ (168 cm) |
| Weight Class | Bantamweight (135 lbs) |
| Reach | 68″ (173 cm) |
| Team | Serra-Longo Fight Team |
| Professional Debut | January 24, 2014 |
| Current Ranking | UFC Bantamweight Champion (former #1 contender post-loss) |
| MMA Record | 21-5-0 |
| Net Worth | ~$2-3 million |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Social Media | Instagram @merab.dvalishvili |
Merab trains out of Long Island, New York, and holds a black belt in judo. He’s proud of his Georgian roots, with a flag tattoo on his chest. No kids or wife yet—he’s said he’s looking but focused on fighting.
Early Career
Born in Soviet Georgia, Merab grew up scrapping in streets before hitting traditional wrestling, sambo, and judo at 12. At 21, he moved to the US, worked construction, and started MMA training in 2012 with amateurs.
Turned pro in 2014, racking wins in Cage Fury FC and Ring of Combat. His spinning back fist KO over Raufeon Stots in 2017 got him on Dana White’s show and a UFC deal. Early hurdles included injuries like a busted elbow.
Professional Career
Merab debuted in UFC against Frankie Saenz in 2017, dropping a split decision but bouncing back fierce. After a sub loss to Ricky Simon, he ignited a 14-fight win streak, grinding decisions over guys like Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O’Malley to snag the bantamweight title at UFC 306 in 2024.
Defended against Umar Nurmagomedov, O’Malley again, and Cory Sandhagen in 2025 before a close UD loss to Yan in their rematch at UFC 323. His style? Tireless takedowns—over 100 career in UFC—and cardio that breaks foes. Stats show 5.97 TD avg per 15 min, 92 landed total.
Merab Dvalishvili’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Merab’s net worth sits around $2-3 million. This comes from skyrocketing UFC purses post-title—over $1.5M from O’Malley fights alone—plus win bonuses, PPV shares, and merch. Early UFC days paid $14K-$60K, but champ status bumped base to $500K+ per bout with millions in backends. Add cars like Ferrari Roma and McLaren 720S, and he’s set.
Fight Purses
Here’s estimated purses for key UFC fights, base pay plus known bonuses/PPV where reported. Numbers ramped up with title run.
| Fight/Event | Purse Estimate |
| vs Frankie Saenz (2017) | $14,000 |
| vs Ricky Simon (2018) | $66,000 |
| vs Terrion Ware (2018) | $36,000 |
| vs Brad Katona (2019) | $44,500 |
| vs Casey Kenney (2020) | ~$44,500 |
| vs Marlon Moraes (2021) | $136,000 |
| vs Jose Aldo (2022) | $204,000 |
| vs Petr Yan (2023) | $211,000 |
| vs Henry Cejudo (2024) | $350,000 |
| vs Sean O’Malley UFC 306 (2024) | $1.5M (incl PPV) |
| vs Umar Nurmagomedov (2025) | $500K base + bonuses |
| vs Sean O’Malley 2 (2025) | ~$1.5M+ |
| vs Cory Sandhagen (2025) | ~$2M+ |
| vs Petr Yan 2 UFC 323 (2025) | $1.7-3M (incl PPV) |
Career Earnings
Cumulative estimated UFC earnings breakdown by year/phase, factoring bases, bonuses, PPV. Total career UFC haul tops $5-7M by 2026, pre-tax.
| Period/Year | Total Earnings Est. | Key Notes |
| 2017-2019 (Early UFC) | ~$200K | Debuts, small bases $14-45K |
| 2020-2022 (Rise) | ~$500K | Decisions over Dodson, Aldo |
| 2023-2024 (Title Shot) | ~$2M | Cejudo $350K, O’Malley $1.5M |
| 2025 (Defenses) | ~$5M+ | 3 defenses, Yan rematch millions |
| Career Total | $7-10M | Incl PPV, bonuses, sponsors |
Endorsements
Merab stacks deals that fit his champ life and Georgian pride. Aviator (his main sponsor) hooked him up with a Mercedes G63 after a win and pushes UFC events in Georgia with Dana White talks. Stake, StarPro Combat gear, Panini America cards, Syndicate MMA, GA Logistics (US-Georgia transport), Flash Motors EVs, ABC Hyundai, Pomona juices, Nabeglavi water, Desert 215 Superstore, 31Betsocial, Casino Beats—all pay for his walkouts and posts. Own merch via Takedown site sells tees, hats with Georgian flair. These add $500K+ yearly on top of UFC cash.
Fight Record
Full pro record 21-5-0; table hits big UFC names. Losses: Saenz (split ’17), Simon (sub ’18), Yan rematch (UD Dec ’25). Wins mostly decisions via grind.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method/Rnd | Event |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Petr Yan | Loss | U-DEC 5 | UFC 323 |
| Oct 4, 2025 | Cory Sandhagen | Win | U-DEC 5 | UFC 320 |
| Jun 7, 2025 | Sean O’Malley | Win | Sub 3 | UFC 316 |
| Jan 18, 2025 | Umar Nurmagomedov | Win | U-DEC 5 | UFC 311 |
| Sep 14, 2024 | Sean O’Malley | Win | U-DEC 5 | UFC 306 |
| Feb 17, 2024 | Henry Cejudo | Win | U-DEC 3 | UFC 298 |
| Mar 11, 2023 | Petr Yan | Win | U-DEC 5 | UFC FN Yan vs Merab |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Jose Aldo | Win | U-DEC 3 | UFC 278 |
| Sep 25, 2021 | Marlon Moraes | Win | KO 2 | UFC 266 |
Championships
Merab’s hardware stacks up with records no one touches.
| Achievement | Details/Date |
| UFC Bantamweight Champion | Won Sep 14, 2024 vs O’Malley; defended 3x |
| Performance of the Night | vs Marlon Moraes, Sep 2021 |
| Fight of the Night | vs Ricky Simon Apr 2018; vs Umar Jan 2025 |
| Most UD wins UFC Bweight | 10 |
| Longest win streak Bweight | 14 |
| Most takedowns landed UFC Bweight | 79 (92 total UFC) |
| Most TD attempts in bout | 49 vs Yan |
| #6 Fighter of the Year 2024 | UFC.com |
| World Sambo Silver | 2019, 68kg |
| US National Combat Sambo Gold | Jun 2024 |
FAQs
1. Who is Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab Dvalishvili is a Georgian-American professional MMA fighter nicknamed “The Machine.” He competed in the UFC bantamweight division as the former UFC Bantamweight Champion with a record of 21-5.
2. What is his background?
Born January 10, 1991, in Vani, Georgia, he trained in traditional Georgian wrestling, khridoli, sambo, and judo from a young age. He moved to the US at 21, trained under Ray Longo and Matt Serra, and worked in construction before going full-time.
3. What is his height, weight, and reach?
Dvalishvili stands 5’6″ tall, fights at 135 lbs in bantamweight, and has a 68″ reach. He fights orthodox stance.
4. What is his professional MMA record?
He has 21 wins (3 KO, 2 SUB, 16 DEC) and 5 losses (all DEC or SUB). In UFC, he went 17-3 after early losses.
5. How did he become UFC champion?
Dvalishvili won the UFC Bantamweight title by unanimous decision over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024. He made three successful defenses before losing it.
6. What are his title defenses?
He defended against Umar Nurmagomedov (UD, UFC 311, Jan 2025), Sean O’Malley (north-south choke, UFC 316, Jun 2025), and Cory Sandhagen (UD, UFC 320, Oct 2025).
7. How did he lose the title?
Petr Yan defeated him by unanimous decision at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, ending his reign and 14-fight win streak. It earned Fight of the Night.
8. What is his fighting style?
Known for relentless wrestling with UFC-record 119 takedowns landed (5.97 avg per 15 min, 35% accuracy). Exceptional cardio allows high pace; striking at 4.42 SLpM, 41% accuracy.
9. What are his notable achievements?
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion (3 defenses), first Georgian-born UFC champ, most UFC takedowns ever, 2025 Fighter of the Year by ESPN/MMA Junkie. Beat four ex-champs: Aldo, Yan, Cejudo, O’Malley (x2).
10. What are his losses?
Early pro losses: Darren Mima (2014 DEC), Ricky Bandejas (2014 DEC). UFC: Frankie Saenz (2017 split DEC), Ricky Simon (2018 tech sub), Petr Yan (2025 UD for title).