“Merab Broke MMA”- Fans React as Merab Dvalishvili Tops Elite UFC List Leaving Khabib Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez & Others Behind

The Theater at Virgin Hotels on March 11 became the venue for the incredible record-setting display by UFC star Merab Dvalishvili. On Saturday night, he went toe-to-toe against the higher-ranked Petr Yan and registered a record 49 takedown attempts. The Georgian fighter entered the main event of UFC Fight Night 221 as an underdog but brightly executed his game plan. ‘The Machine’ relentlessly chased his opponent and never let the Russian fight catch a breather. Not only he did unsettle ‘No Mercy’ with his infinitive cardio, but also caught him off guard with well-crafted combos. As a result, he picked up an impressive win against the former bantamweight champion.

Notably, the 32-year-old came into the fight with an 8-win streak momentum. His recent win against former UFC champion Jose Aldo boosted his resume and established him as the next title contender. Further, with another win against the former champion, the bantamweight fighter strengthened his title credentials.

Merab Dvalishvili dominates Petr Yan in a record-setting performance

The 16-4 record holder in the fight came out, with all guns blazing, and exhibited his top-notch grappling skills. The fighter dominated his opponent on the ground and also outstroke him.

Markedly, the Serra-Longo Fight Team representative swept off the judges’ scorecard, each noting 50-45, as he caught the 30-year-old lacking on multiple occasions. The Judo black belt holder’s attempt to take the fight to the ground and find a hole in Yan‘s defense with neatly hidden combos remained a recurring theme throughout the fight.

While the fight went the distance, the former world sambo medalist thumped and outscored the Dudinka native in every round. He landed 176 significant strikes compared to 83 that his opponent could register. Besides, he attempted 426 strikes as he pushed his skills to the brink.

Merab also attempted 49 takedowns and successfully completed 11 of those. He broke the record that was previously held by Cain Velasquez with 33 attempts.

Following them, Per Eklund is third on the list with 30 attempts. The fourth is occupied by Matt Serra and tied 5th is Khabib Nurmagomedov and Diego Sanchez, with 28 and 27 attempts, respectively.

Read More: “If Wrestle F@cked Was a Person! Sheesh!”: UFC World in Disbelief as Ex-champ Petr Yan Gets Mauled by “Machine” Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Vegas 71

As a result, he also registered a control time of almost 7 minutes. The former Ring of Combat champion received accolades for his boundless cardio that gave him the upper hand in the fight.

How did the fans react to the record?

What do you think of this splendid fight at UFC Fight Night 221? Do you believe Merab Dvalishvili will challenge for the belt soon? Let us know in the comments below.

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