UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall didn’t mince words when discussing bantamweight powerhouse Merab Dvalishvili during his recent reaction to UFC 320. While reviewing Dvalishvili‘s dominant showing against Cory Sandhagen, Aspinall made it crystal clear that “The Machine” from Georgia is an MMA star he’d prefer to avoid at all costs.
“Oh, I would not want to compete with Merab. Awful,”
Aspinall declared while watching the Georgian’s relentless pressure on Sandhagen.
“He just doesn’t stop. He’s just got his leg twisted and turned it in about five different directions.”
Dvalishvili‘s performance against Sandhagen was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the exact qualities that make him such a nightmare matchup for any opponent. The Georgian set a new UFC record with 17 takedowns in a five-round contest, completely dominating every aspect from start to finish.
What impressed Aspinall most wasn’t just Dvalishvili‘s output but his seemingly endless gas tank and technical versatility.
“People who have never done this before don’t understand how exhausting it is to like get up and down that much,”
Aspinall explained.
“It’s unbelievably exhausting. And this guy just continues to do it more and more every match.”
The heavyweight champion was particularly struck by Dvalishvili‘s ability to maintain his pace throughout the entire contest.
“Merab looking exactly the same as he did in the first minute of the first round,”
Aspinall observed during the fifth, while noting that Sandhagen appeared increasingly worn down.
Aspinall praised not only Dvalishvili‘s cardio but also his technical skills, stating,
“People don’t talk enough about Merab’s technique as well. Like his grappling and the way he switches between grappling and strikes is unbelievable.”
The constant pressure and unpredictability of Dvalishvili‘s approach creates what Aspinall described as “an uncomfortable existence” for opponents.
The psychological warfare aspect wasn’t lost on the heavyweight champion either. Throughout the contest, Dvalishvili maintained his trademark smile and playful demeanor, even dancing between exchanges while completely controlling the pace.
“He’s having a giggle. We’re on like round five. You’re not even close to being tired,”
Aspinall marveled.
For Aspinall, Dvalishvili represents a unique challenge in mixed martial arts – an MMA star whose relentless pace and technical diversity make him virtually impossible to prepare for effectively.
“You just never know what he’s going to do and he will just keep doing it,”
he concluded, perfectly summarizing why Merab Dvalishvili has become one of the most feared competitors in the bantamweight division.
