Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning bantamweight champion, appears to have limited options for his next bout, but former champion TJ Dillashaw has suggested a surprising matchup that could generate significant interest. After successfully defending his bantamweight title at UFC 316 by dominating Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili’s next bantamweight title defense remains a hot topic in the MMA world.
UFC president Dana White recently signaled that Cory Sandhagen is the most likely contender for Dvalishvili’s next fight, while also expressing curiosity about a potential rematch against Umar Nurmagomedov. Despite the uncertainty over his opponent, Dvalishvili is already being hailed by many fans and analysts as the greatest bantamweight fighter in history, surpassing the achievements of Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw himself.
Dillashaw’s Suggestion: A Fight Against Aljamain Sterling
When Dvalishvili was still a top contender rather than champion, Dana White often expressed frustration as Dvalishvili repeatedly declined to face Aljamain Sterling, then the bantamweight titleholder and his training partner. Following Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley and Dvalishvili’s rise to champion, Sterling moved up to the lightweight division, where his record currently stands at one win and one loss.
Nevertheless, TJ Dillashaw has voiced support for a high-profile matchup between Dvalishvili and Sterling, believing it would be one of the few bouts that might challenge the dominant champion. Dillashaw shared his thoughts during the Jaxxon Podcast:
“I want to see Merab and Sterling fight,”
Dillashaw said.
“They could make so much money. I understand (that they’re best friends) but you’re getting paid, who gives a s—. (Sterling) should come back down… You’re here to get paid, I don’t know, I think it’d be an awesome story,”
Dillashaw continued.
Merab Dvalishvili’s Celebratory Return to Georgia
After his successful title defense against Sean O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili returned to Georgia, where he was greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm by his home fans. Standing atop an open-top bus and holding his UFC title, Dvalishvili was swarmed by supporters in a massive show of admiration.
As his popularity grows worldwide, Dvalishvili is poised to solidify his place among the sport’s elite. With hopes to complete another title defense before the year ends, he could potentially claim the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, marking a significant milestone in his career.