Merab Dvalishvili is a Georgian-American mixed martial artist who made history as the first Georgian-born champion in UFC history, claiming the Bantamweight title. After losing his first two UFC bouts in 2017–2018, he went on a phenomenal 14-fight win streak—the fourth longest in UFC history—defeating former champions such as José Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Sean O'Malley. He also set an all-time UFC record with 119 takedowns and ranks second in total strikes landed. Born in Vani, Georgia, and raised in Tbilisi, he trained in traditional Georgian wrestling, sambo, and judo before moving to the U.S. at age 21 to pursue his MMA career. His journey gained traction after a viral spinning backfist knockout on Dana White's Lookin' for a Fight in 2017, which secured his UFC contract. As of 2026, he holds the #1 bantamweight ranking and sits #8 on the UFC's men's pound-for-pound list, cementing his place among the all-time greats.