Conor McGregor believes UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is a star.
Georgia’s Dvalishvili has held the 135-pound title for almost a year since winning it in dominant style against Sean O’Malley last September.
The 34-year-old then defended it against Umar Nurmagomedov at the start of this year, and he is now gearing up for a rematch with O’Malley in June.
The pair headline UFC 316, which also sees Julianna Pena defend her women’s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison in the second title fight of the night.
After suffering consecutive defeats in his first two UFC appearances, Dvalishvili has forged a reputation for his warrior spirit, embarking on an impressive 12-fight winning streak.
Footage has resurfaced of his second UFC defeat to Ricky Simon in April 2018, where he was on the verge of passing out in a guillotine choke.
The fight was officially ruled a technical submission loss for Dvalishvili, who hasn’t tasted defeat in MMA since.
The short clip showing Dvalishvili refusing to tap to the submission has got the MMA world talking — and even caught the attention of McGregor.
“And now, years on, the reigning, defending UFC World Champion! Magnificent!” McGregor wrote on X, responding to the footage.
“Merab is A Star!”
Fans were also quick to react to Dvalishvili’s toughness as one labelled him a ‘superhuman.’
A second said: “Merab is such a dawg bro,” while a third added: “The guy is crazy.”
Former two-weight UFC champion McGregor said Dvalishvili ‘is a star’Getty Images - Getty Dvalishvili will share the Octagon with O’Malley for the second time at UFC 316 in JuneGettyDvalishvili has come a long way since working various construction-style jobs at the beginning of his career to make ends meet.
His title victory over O’Malley was held at the iconic Las Vegas Sphere and drew a record $22 million gate.
He has also had his fair share of individual viral moments since emerging as one of the UFC’s biggest stars.
Dvalishvili once left fans stunned after randomly auditioning for a music video while holding his UFC title, jumped headfirst into a frozen lake and cracked his skull open, and showcased his freakish stamina by swimming laps underwater without coming up for air.
O’Malley, meanwhile, has gone all in for his second shot at UFC gold, admitting he has cut out all social media as it was his ‘biggest distraction’ in life.
The 30-year-old hasn’t fought since dropping the 135lb strap to Dvalishvili last September.
Former bantamweight champion O’Malley has quit all forms of social media in preparation for the rematchGettyView Tweet: t.co/JOmxZzvSk4
He won gold for the first time in White’s promotion by knocking out Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023.
Seven months later, ‘Suga’ made his first defence of the belt against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera to avenge his one and only career defeat to the Ecuadorian.
“Social media is the biggest distraction right now for me,” he said in December.
“I’ve already started reading and writing more. It’s just going to force me to continue to do stuff like that.
“And that’s where I feel like I’m going to be able to learn this lesson of whatever is trying to be taught to me.”
O’Malley’s verbal exchanges with Dvalishvili have also gained significant traction among the MMA world.
In March, the American bumped into his next opponent at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas and discussed their imminent rematch.
“Your last fight was impressive. You looked good, that was a fun fight to watch,” he said.
Dvalishvili responded: “When are we gonna fight? I know you hit hard and then I know you’re gonna change plan.
O’Malley replied: “I only had one hip last time. I have both hips now…I would say good luck but no I hope you have bad luck.”
UFC 316 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in the early hours of Sunday morning on June 8 for UK fans.
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