Merab Dvalishvili: A Champion with Unusual Preparation
The UFC bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, has revealed an unusual preparation method that includes five full rounds of sparring on the same day as his fights. Dvalishvili, known for his impressive endurance, performed this routine last weekend in Las Vegas, approximately nine hours before his title defense against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. In an interview on the Jaxxon Podcast, UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr., teammate of Dvalishvili at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, confirmed this peculiar practice.Wood explained that these five rounds are performed at a pace of “approximately 70 percent.” Despite not being a common practice in the sport, Wood describes it as “tough and technical fights.” In addition to the five rounds in the gym, Dvalishvili also warms up in the locker room before the fight. The 34-year-old Georgian fighter usually does between three and five rounds with his teammate and former bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, right before going out to the octagon.“This isn’t new. It’s funny that Khalil is the one revealing it,” commented John Wood, head coach of Syndicate MMA. “Merab has been doing this since I started coaching him [in 2020]. Every fight day, he comes in and spars for five rounds. He wanted to do six, and I had to stop him.”
John Wood, Syndicate MMA Coach
Dvalishvili is recognized for his relentless physical condition. In his recent fight against Sandhagen, he achieved 20 takedowns, raising his career total to 117, the most in UFC history. He has already requested that the UFC schedule his next title defense in December.“The craziest thing is the five rounds right before the fight,” Wood said. “Aljamain brings a full helmet, and it’s a full-on sparring match in the locker room. Obviously, Aljo isn’t there to hurt him, and it’s gotten to a point on multiple occasions where I feel bad for Aljo, because Merab is just beating him up in there. It’s pretty interesting.”
John Wood, Syndicate MMA Coach
