UFC icon Conor McGregor is eagerly anticipating Merab Dvalishvili`s return to the Octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC bantamweight champion, has become a prominent figure in Mixed Martial Arts, boasting an impressive undefeated streak. Following his victory at UFC 311, where he defeated a fighter from Khabib Nurmagomedov`s team, Dvalishvili received high praise from Conor McGregor.
Dvalishvili is set to defend his bantamweight title in a highly anticipated rematch against Sean O`Malley, the former champion he defeated to claim the belt. Their clash will headline UFC 316 in June. Previously, at UFC 306 in September, Dvalishvili secured a unanimous decision win over O`Malley, marking the beginning of his title reign in the bantamweight division.
Dvalishvili`s journey to stardom is particularly noteworthy as it began with consecutive losses in his initial UFC fights. McGregor is deeply impressed by Dvalishvili`s remarkable turnaround and subsequent accomplishments after overcoming early setbacks.
Reflecting on Dvalishvili`s career, McGregor acknowledged his initial losses to Ricky Simon and Frankie Saenz, highlighting how close Dvalishvili was to being cut from the UFC roster before turning things around with a win against Terrion Ware.
Since those early challenges, Dvalishvili has transformed into a dominant force in combat sports, earning McGregor`s strong admiration and support.
In a recent social media post, McGregor publicly lauded Dvalishvili for his perseverance and championship success, especially after his difficult start in the UFC.
“And now, years later, the reigning, defending UFC World Champion! Magnificent!” McGregor exclaimed, recognizing Dvalishvili`s achievement.
“Merab is A Star!” McGregor added, emphasizing his high regard for the bantamweight champion.
As of now, Dvalishvili has not publicly responded to McGregor`s complimentary remarks. McGregor himself has been out of action since sustaining a leg injury in his fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Similar to Dvalishvili, McGregor also faced early career hurdles in MMA before rising to become the UFC`s biggest star. A swift four-second knockout victory served as a major turning point, propelling McGregor to superstardom in the world of combat sports.
Recently, McGregor sparked speculation about retiring from MMA to pursue political aspirations in Ireland. This followed his announcement of an Irish presidential campaign earlier in the year, subsequent to a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
There were also brief discussions about a potential boxing match between McGregor and Logan Paul, but these negotiations reportedly stalled due to intervention from UFC officials. Currently, McGregor remains under contract with the UFC but is not participating in the promotion`s Drug Free Sport testing program.
Dvalishvili stands out as one of several UFC athletes who have achieved significant success independently of McGregor`s widespread fame. Should Dvalishvili defeat O`Malley once more at UFC 316, his argument for a higher position in the pound-for-pound rankings would be considerably strengthened.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley