Merab Dvalishvili might not be as outright skilled as the legendary list of opponents he has defeated since 2022 yet that has never seemed to matter.
You can call the native of Georgia a “decision machine” or attempt to discount his success by pointing out how much he relies upon his insane cardio and conditioning. But all Dvalishvili continues to do is win against any style presented to him in one of the sport’s deepest divisions.
Add in the fact that “The Machine” completed his first title defense at UFC 311 in January just four months removed from winning the title while training through a serious back injury and a gnarly cut on his leg and you quickly realize that the 34-year-old is simply built different.
Dvalishvili rallied over the final three rounds to edge unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov last weekend. And despite getting pieced up on his feet in the first two rounds and proving unable to take Nurmagomedov down with the consistency he’s used to, all Dvalishvili did was persevere and keep trying.
In the end, Dvalishvili delivered a key right cross late in Round 5 and followed it up with yet another takedown — his sixth of the bout — which put him above Georges St-Pierre for the most takedowns secured in UFC history.
Make no mistake, Dvalishvili’s stamina and toughness are super powers that have allowed him to extend his win streak to an incredible 12 fights while adding Nurmagomedov to a gaudy list of opponents defeated since 2022, which also includes Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley.
UFC 311 results, takeaways: Islam Makhachev deserving of praise; Merab Dvalishvili proving how great he is
Brian Campbell
But Dvalishvili is clearly more skilled than his critics give him credit and remains one of the most relentless grapplers in the UFC today.
There was an insane amount of drama throughout the build to UFC 311, with Dvalishvili constantly pointing out that Nurmagomedov didn’t deserve the title shot while going public that the promotion pushed him into the title defense before his injuries had fully healed. Yet, at the end of the day, none of it mattered as Dvalishvili focused on the task at hand and proved, once again, that if you can’t stop him early then things will likely be difficult for you in the championship rounds.
Dvalishvili is special in that regard and deserves to be taken seriously as one of the top fighters in the sport today.
Men’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Islam Makhachev — Lightweight champion
Record: 27-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
Despite top contender Arman Tsarukyan pulling out of their rematch at UFC 311 in January just one day prior due to a back injury, Makhachev made quick work of late replacement Renato Moicano in a first-round submission. Makhachev, a teammate and protege of former 155-pound king Khabib Nurmagomedov, broke the record for lightweight title defenses with the win and extended his win streak to 15, which is one shy of Anderson Silva’s UFC record.
2. Ilia Topuria — Featherweight champion
Record: 15-0 | Previous ranking: 2
Topuria, a native of Georgia who fights out of Spain, looks very much to be the next breakout star in MMA after earning fighter of the year in 2024 with knockouts of the pound-for-pound ranked Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. The 145-pound champion has also teased an immediate move up to lightweight and called out champion Islam Makhachev on social media after UFC 311 in January.
3. Alex Pereira — Light heavyweight champion
Record: 12-2 | Previous ranking: 3
The 37-year-old Brazilian slugger remains the most valuable fighter on the UFC roster. Pereira returned in October to defend his 205-pound crown against Khalil Rountree Jr. The win set a new UFC record with three title defenses in a span of just 175 days. Pereira returns in March at UFC 313 in Las Vegas as a betting underdog when he faces Magomed Ankalaev.
4. Merab Dvalishvili — Bantamweight champion
Record: 19-4 | Previous ranking: 6
Despite a serious back injury and nasty cut on his leg, the underdog Dvalishvili outlasted unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in his first title defense. The native of Georgia, who just might possess the best cardio in UFC history, has now beaten a who’s who at 135 pounds since 2022. He may not be a finisher but “The Machine” is as tough a test as anyone in UFC.
5. Jon Jones — Heavyweight champion
Record: 27-1, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 4
In just his second UFC appearance in nearly five years, Jones successfully shook off an 18-month layoff and recovery from pectoral surgery to dominate former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. While the performance was both complete and impressive for Jones, it came against a 42-year-old opponent who looked slow, hadn’t fought in three years and hadn’t won since 2020.
6. Dricus du Plessis — Middleweight champion
Record: 22-2 | Previous ranking: 5
Say what you will about his lumbering and often raw style of forward pressure, the native of South Africa has achieved tremendous results throughout eight unbeaten trips to the Octagon. The defending 185-pound champion added Israel Adesanya to his hit list at UFC 305 in August, which also includes fellow former middleweight kings Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker. Up next is a Sean Strickland rematch at UFC 312 in March.
7. Alexandre Pantoja — Flyweight champion
Record: 29-5 | Previous ranking: 9
After relying much more on his iron will than his P4P skills to take the flyweight title from Brandon Moreno last summer, the Brazilian submission expert has stayed busy since with a trio of title defenses against Brandon Royval (in their rematch), Steve Erceg and, most recently, UFC debutant Kai Asakura. At 34, Pantoja seems to only have gotten better since winning UFC gold and is in the best shape of his career.
8. Belal Muhammad — Welterweight champion
Record: 24-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 7
With an unbeaten streak that reached 11 fights when he upset Leon Edwards to capture the welterweight title at UFC 304 in July, the time to doubt or undermine Muhammad’s world-class skills is no more. At 36, the proud Palestinian-American from Chicago also became the oldest fighter to win a UFC title at 170 pounds or below. With an injury behind him, Muhammad’s first title defense is expected to come against Shavkat Rakhmonov in 2025.
9. Khamzat Chimaev — Middleweight
Record: 14-0 | Previous ranking: 8
The only thing previously stopping Chimaev from joining this list has been inactivity, largely due to a bad-luck mixture of illness and injury. But a healthy Chimaev is as dangerous as any in the sport, as evidenced by the 30-year-old’s first-round destruction of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October, which left the former champion with a broken jaw. Despite the breakthrough win, Chimaev will have to wait for his title shot now that Dricus du Plessis-Sean Strickland II is set for March.
10. Leon Edwards — Welterweight
Record: 21-4, 1 NC | Previous ranking: 10
Fighting in his adopted backyard of England provided few advantages for Edwards against the crisp boxing and relentless pressure of Belal Muhammad as the inspirational 170-pound title reign of “Rocky” came to an end at UFC 304. Edwards blamed the early morning start time for his flat performance despite rallying to cut Muhammad late in Round 5. He’s expected to return at UFC London in March.
Dropped out: None
Just missed: Umar Nurmagomedov, Tom Aspinall, Sean O’Malley, Sean Strickland, Magomed Ankalaev
Women’s pound-for-pound rankings
1. Valentina Shevchenko — Flyweight champion
Record: 24-4-1 | Previous ranking: No. 1
The future Hall of Famer cemented her legacy even further by becoming a two-time champion in her trilogy against Alexa Grasso at UFC 306. At 36, Shevchenko defied age and a one-year layoff to pitch a shutout of Grasso over five rounds thanks to her grappling and counterpunching. A lifelong student of martial arts, Shevchenko is only getting better.
2. Zhang Weili — Strawweight champion
Record: 25-3 | Previous ranking: No. 2
Zhang improved to 9-0 in the UFC against everyone not named Rose Namajunas when she outlasted Chinese countrywoman Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 and did so by relying on her cardio, IQ and improved grappling after nearly scoring a pair of early finishes. Her toughest test may still be to come, however, in the form of Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in March.
3. Manon Fiorot — Flyweight
Record: 12-1 | Previous ranking: 3
A shutout, five-round decision over red-hot Erin Blanchfield looks to be the final hurdle that the 34-year-old native of France will have to clear en route to a title shot. Fiorot’s takedown defense and ability to avoid danger on the ground set the perfect stage for her pinpoint striking to shine. Expect Fiorot to get the first shot at Shevchenko in her second title reign at 125 pounds.
4. Kayla Harrison — Bantamweight
Record: 18-1 | Previous ranking: 4
Despite an insane weight cut down to 135 pounds that left her hospitalized and urinating blood just weeks before the fight, Harrison appears to have finally secured a shot at a UFC title with her October victory over No. 2-ranked Ketlen Vieira. Harrison was forced to overcome heavy swelling and blood after being cut for the first time in her career. While Harrison will be a heavy betting favorite against champion Julianna Pena, the real question comes down to whether she can continue to make the weight in this division after competing at 155 pounds in the PFL.
5. Tatiana Suarez — Strawweight
Record: 10-0 | Previous ranking: 5
Despite losing nearly four years of her prime due to chronic injuries, Suarez is back on the scene in a big way. Her dominant submission of former champion Jessica Andrade last summer was a stark reminder of where she stands within 115-pound title contention. Few can match her grappling prowess alone and even less can equal the relentless competitive streak which fuels her resolve. After a lengthy break, Suarez will finally fight for UFC gold against Weili Zhang in March.
Dropped out: None
Just missed: Alexa Grasso, Erin Blanchfield, Julianna Pena, Yan Xiaonan, Virna Jandiroba
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