Merab Dvalishvili defines himself as the best bantamweight in the sport, and it would be very difficult for someone to slow him down.
It was based around UFC color commentator Joe Logan, who recently praised Dvalishvili on a podcast, detailing how the Georgian born fighter jets are pushing just an unparalleled pace to the sport. He developed from his wrestler roots into a very rounded fighter, but Logan says Dvalishvili’s ability to never slow down during a 25-minute fight gives him an advantage over opponents he could potentially face in the UFC.
“That guy is crazy,” Logan said. “He’s crazy. His aerobic exercise is something that everybody who’s been involved in the sport as long as I have, is blown away by it. That guy is a freak. Daniel Cormier won the title Saturday night after he won the title. Stop.
“This guy from Georgia is a man in this war-torn country who embraces such a grind at a level where no one else can compete with. Once he enters the ring, no one can fit his aerobic exercise. No one can fit his pace.
Logan specifically pointed out Dobarishvili’s victory in January, handing Umar Nurmagomedov the first defeat of his career after joining the fight as a betting underdog. Despite Nurmagomedov winning several early rounds, Dvalishvili continued to follow him, eventually ramming through Russian fighters, earning an unanimous decision victory.
“You see people like the elite Umar Nurmagomedov – he’s world class – like at other times, he’s the world champion and Merab just overwhelms him,” Logan said. “Merab doesn’t even get tired of seeing him overwhelmed by the pace. He’s a freak.”
Perhaps the most frightening part of Dvalisvhili is that he is always getting better and Rogan doesn’t really see the ceiling for him.
He also knows that many other people around the sport are paying attention. We are especially careful about our ability to push unrelenting paces that simply put the enemy on after the round, until there is nothing left in the tank.
“We can see the evolution of his techniques, so much of that can be (learned) in America,” Logan said. “It’s his way of thinking and his drive. Filas Zahabi did the whole video about him saying he needs to study in the lab. Falas Zahabi, who runs Tristar in Montreal, is one of the best gyms of all time, he is one of the best minds in MMA history, and he is separated by this guy.
“There are people who are in the EPO as cyclists take. It’s you have more blood cells and more aerobic exercise, but you have an af*cking stroke, it’s very dangerous to get arrested for such shit.
Logan says that some of Dvalishvili’s abilities may seem to come from superior genetics, and the bantamweight champion believes it is not.
It really comes down to hard work and dedication, and Logan doesn’t know if someone is more committed to success than Dvalishvili in the sport.
“I think (Firas Zahabi) is genetic, but Merab says it isn’t,” Rogan said. “He’s a freak and keeps his technique good. He makes everything better. That drive isn’t just about his cardio, it’s because of his entire skill set.