Lee Chang-ho may have entered the Octagon hoping to make a statement, but he left with something far bigger: acknowledgment from a UFC champion. Following a stunning TKO victory in his UFC debut at Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy, Lee unveiled a new nickname inspired by one of his idols: “Korean Machine.” The title is an obvious reference to current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, known as “The Machine” due to his limitless cardio and constant pressure. But what took many by surprise was that in response to his fight, Merab Dvalishvili took to social media and gave his seal of approval.

Taking to his X account, the Georgian fighter simply wrote, “Great fight Korean Machine.” And trust us when we tell you that the praise wasn’t just for show; Lee deserved every bit of it. Facing a dangerous Cortavious Romious, who arrived overweight and hungry to redeem himself, the Korean star followed a smart and suffocating strategy. He lured Romious into his world of grinding grapples, ground-and-pound, and lightning-fast transitions. After surviving a few tough times early on, ‘The Korean Machine’ seized on Romious’s submission attempts and punished him with brutal elbows from the mount. The fight-ending TKO in the second round was as emphatic as they come, as the Korean walked away with not just a win on his record but also a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

During his interview with the UFC, Lee described how the new nickname came about. “Korean Khabib and Korean Merab, that’s how you should know me,” he stated. “I have a great gas tank and ground and pound. I’m going to keep getting finishes.” The nickname “K-Machine” stemmed from a similar philosophy, combining his Korean heritage with Merab Dvalishvili’s relentless motor. The Korean fighter further candidly stated that he still has a long way to go but hopes to improve with each battle.

While Lee has yet to live up to the ‘Korean Khabib’ hype, his UFC debut was more than enough to solidify his status as a top prospect. Romious had his opportunities, particularly in the opening round, but Lee’s ability to adapt, maintain pressure, and break down his opponent was telling. Lee Chang-ho has officially arrived, thanks to a strong win, a shoutout from the champ, and some hard-earned cash. Now, with this fight bringing him to the attention of Dana White, it would be interesting to see if we get to see a match between ‘The Machine’ and ‘The Korean Machine’ anytime soon.  But before we get to see that spectacle, the Georgian will be going one-on-one against Sean O’Malley, a long-time rival who has now become somewhat of a friend to the fighter.

Merab Dvalishvili’s new bond with his former rival has left fans confused

Before Merab Dvalishvili takes on the rising ‘Korean Machine,’ the original Machine will have to take a detour and go one-on-one against his former nemesis, Sean O’Malley. The same man who the Georgian once stripped of his bantamweight title and the same man who is now joking around with him in hot tubs and swapping compliments like old friends. Many longstanding fans are perplexed by the reversal. From blood feud to bromance? Apparently so. And, as weird as it may appear, it adds another bizarre yet fascinating element to the UFC 316 main event on June 7.

Their first fight was not exactly a love letter to sportsmanship. Back at UFC 306 inside the Las Vegas Sphere, Dvalishvili buried ‘Suga’ with wrestling and grit, capturing his title and momentum in a one-sided bout. At the moment, Sean O’Malley was still high from dethroning Merab’s friend Aljamain Sterling, and tensions between the two camps were at their highest. After less than a year, they’re exchanging light jabs—verbal ones this time—while resting in a jacuzzi. “Have you been enjoying champ life?” O’Malley asked casually in a recent video of the two. “Beginning, no, now I am,” Merab replied, smirking together as if they had never been foes.

But underneath the newfound politeness, you can still feel the fire. Or at least a glimmer of it. ‘Suga’ may laugh at Merab Dvalishvili’s predictions, but every conversation has a competitive undercurrent. “I only had one hip last time,” he said, suggesting that the rematch would be a completely different game. However, ‘The Machine’ too answered that throwing strong punches will not change the outcome. Despite their cheerful banter, anxiety remains just beneath the surface, waiting to erupt when the cage door shuts again. Fans may be confused by their friendship, but rest assured that by June 7, there will be no room for smiles in the Octagon. What do you think? Who will win the fight this time? Let us know in the comments.