Merab Dvalishvili has figured out the secret sauce for standing out in the UFC, and it’s not just about winning fights. The bantamweight contender, known for his relentless pace, has become just as famous for his viral antics as his victories.
Merab Dvalishvili on Going Viral
“I realized when I was winning fights and I was not getting a chance to fight for the belt, I needed to do something extra. I needed to show my personality, not only with my teammates,” Dvalishvili said, in an interview with the UFC. So, he took things up a notch, on social media and in the cage.
Fans might remember the time Merab Dvalishvili was tossed around like a sack of potatoes by a towering kickboxer in a training video. He bounced back, of course, with a grin, proving he can take a beating and still laugh about it.
Then there was his attempted staredown with a playboy model, which was less intimidating and more comedic, especially when the height difference became obvious.
But it’s not just outside the Octagon where Merab courts attention. During a fight, he found himself in a dominant position, choking out Henry Cejudo, and decided it was the perfect moment to chat with Mark Zuckerberg, who was sitting cageside. “When I was in a dominant position, like when I was holding Henry in a choke and I was talking with Mark Zuckerberg and stuff like that…” he recalled. Only Merab could multitask like that under pressure.
And, of course, who could forget the kiss? After a heated build-up with Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili planted one on his rival, creating a moment that quickly made the rounds online.
“Kissing Sean, yeah, that’s a viral moment! It’s fun, crazy, crazy. Nobody talks about fight day; everybody talks about these moments,” he said. As Dvalishvili gears up for his next bout at UFC 316, he’s made it clear: winning is good, but making memories is better. Whether he’s grappling, joking, or just being himself, Merab knows how to keep fans talking.
