In one of the most impressive performances of his career, Merab Dvalishvili (19-4) successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title for the first time at UFC 311. The 34-year-old defeated the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1) by unanimous decision in the co-main event at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night.
With official scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, Dvalishvili not only silenced doubters but also solidified his legacy by surpassing Georges St-Pierre’s record for career takedowns in the UFC.
A Tale of Grit and Experience
The fight started competitively, with Nurmagomedov, a significant betting favorite, taking the first round and opening a cut near Dvalishvili’s left eye. However, the Georgian champion’s relentless pace and pressure began to wear Nurmagomedov down in the later rounds.
According to UFC Stats, Dvalishvili landed 133 strikes to Nurmagomedov’s 81 and executed a total of six takedowns. Nurmagomedov, known for his striking and grappling pedigree, struggled to impose his game plan, converting only 2 of 15 takedown attempts.
In the closing minute of the fifth round, Dvalishvili sealed his victory with a clean right hand and two successful takedowns.
Dvalishvili’s Message and Legacy
The win marked Dvalishvili’s fifth consecutive victory against a champion-level opponent, having previously defeated José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O’Malley.
After the fight, Dvalishvili reflected on his journey and critics:
“Umar is a tough fighter, and he’s good, but he called me old. Yes, I’m old, but I’m working every day. I’m a harder worker. I’m so proud of myself. I can retire today, and I can die happy.”
Nurmagomedov’s Setback
Despite his first career loss, Nurmagomedov remained composed in defeat. The 29-year-old revealed a left-hand injury sustained in the opening round that hindered his striking:
“First round, I won. Others was close. And after the first round, I can’t punch because I think I broke my [left] hand, and the game go other way.”
The loss marks a setback in Nurmagomedov’s otherwise meteoric rise. Cornered by his cousin, retired UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar had been fast-tracked to a title fight despite only one victory over a highly ranked opponent.
What’s Next?
With the bantamweight division heating up, Dvalishvili’s next challenge could be a rematch against Sean O’Malley, who sat cageside for the fight. O’Malley, recovering from recent hip surgery, lost his title to Dvalishvili in September at UFC Noche. A showdown between the two could be on the horizon.
For Dvalishvili, Saturday night was a testament to his grit, experience, and dominance as one of the UFC’s most relentless fighters.
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