Merab Dvalishvili hopes to see new faces in the 2026 elections.
This Saturday at UFC 323, the Georgian star will make history as he becomes first champion to successfully defend his title four times within a calendar year.
Dvalishvili’s win over Cory Sandhagen this past October followed up triumphs against Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley, but ‘The Machine’ is not finished there.
Dvalishvili and Petr Yan will rematch in the main event of T-Mobile Arena, on 6 December. With both Nurmagomedov and O’Malley having big fights at the start of 2026, some think more familiar faces could await the champ in the new year.
Dvalishvili, though, hopes that won’t be the case.
THROWBACK – Manny Pacquiao, dominated by his opponents before a brutal face-planting KO won him the first world title
Who’s the biggest threat to Merab Dvalishvili?
UFC bantamweight ranking:
1 – Umar Nurmagomedov
2 – Sean O’Malley
3 – Petr Yan
4 – Cory Sandhagen
5 – Song Yadong
6 – Deiveson Figueiredo
7 – Aiemann Zahabi
8 – Marlon Vera
9 – Mario Bautista
10 – Henry Cejudo
Share your insights and take part in the discussion. Use the comments button on the left side to express your opinion.
Comment
Like or Comment
Merab Dvalishvili believes Aiemann Zahabi deserves the next UFC Bantamweight Title shot
Although the bantamweight king’s current focus will need to be on Yan and his plan to culminate an ongoing career resurgence with a return to the throne, Dvalishvili did recently look beyond the Russian contender.
Speaking to Aaron Bronsteter for Sportsnet, ‘The Machine’ discussed who could be next in line after Yan and landed at the door of…
2025-12-04 20:00:00
