Merab Dvalishvili lightheartedly quips that his journey in mixed martial arts (MMA) might have taken a completely different route if it hadn't been for a certain former champion in the UFC.
Imagine this: the current UFC Bantamweight Champion, who dominates the division today, actually faced a shaky start with two consecutive losses shortly after stepping into the Octagon between 2017 and 2018. It's a remarkable transformation to see how far he has come since those initial struggles. Since then, Dvalishvili has built an impressive resume, racking up a remarkable 13 consecutive victories and successfully defending his title twice in the bantamweight category.
In just a few days, Dvalishvili is prepared to go toe-to-toe with the fourth-ranked contender, Cory Sandhagen, in the co-main event of UFC 320 taking place in Las Vegas.
Reflecting on his journey, Dvalishvili shared that his current standing might not have been possible without the invaluable support of a longtime friend and training partner.
Delving deeper into this connection, it's worth noting that Aljamain Sterling, another standout in the bantamweight landscape and a crucial ally for Dvalishvili, has been regarded as one of the sport's all-time greats. Sterling—who entered the UFC ahead of Dvalishvili in 2014—holds the record for the most title defenses in the bantamweight division's history, a staggering three times.
The camaraderie between Sterling and Dvalishvili has meant they often train together, fostering a supportive environment where competition is rooted in friendship. When asked about his career path without Sterling’s mentorship, Dvalishvili pondered aloud,
"Oh, man. I don’t know. I could be somewhere… PFL now,” he said, eliciting chuckles from his fellow fighter, Daniel Cormier.
This prompted Cormier to inquire just how significant Sterling has been in Dvalishvili’s ascent.
“Of course,” Dvalishvili affirmed. “When you train with a real UFC fighter, you see him working hard and achieving success. It inspires you and shows you what’s possible. The moment Cain Velasquez won the title, it sent a powerful message to all of us at AKA—‘Oh my goodness… we can actually become champions!’”
He emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, "You learn from it, and that’s why I make it a point to share my experiences and knowledge with the younger fighters coming up."
In an interesting twist, despite the steadfast promise between Sterling and Dvalishvili never to compete against one another, one former bantamweight champion is anxious to see their paths cross.
“I want to see Merab and Sterling fight,” expressed TJ Dillashaw during an appearance on the Jaxxon Podcast.
He elaborated, “They could generate a considerable amount of revenue. I get that they are best friends, but at the end of the day, it’s a business. Who cares? It would be an incredible narrative, and Sterling should consider returning to that weight class.”
This raises an intriguing point: Should friendship stand in the way of such lucrative and potentially groundbreaking fights in the world of MMA? What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree with Dillashaw that they should fight, or do you believe their bond should remain unaltered by the sport's competitive nature? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments!
