It seems like the era of the nigh untouchable Dagestani archetype in MMA is coming to a close. We’re not saying that fighters from Dagestan aren’t dominant or technical. We’re just saying that the rest of the game is starting to catch up. This is quite evident from fighters like Shara Magomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Ikram Aliskerov losing their respective last fights. The Dagestanis might be going through what the Gracies once went through.

The Gracies introduced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in their earliest iterations to the world. They were once the competition that everybody wanted to beat with their signature BJJ style. And everyone else eventually did once they started training BJJ as well, eventually catching up to the Gracies. A family once known for dominant faces in MMA like Royce and Rickson Gracie has now been reduced to mid-tier fighters like Kron Gracie.

On the tails of the Dagestani fighters, are a new breed of fighters from a different country in the same Geographical region. We’re talking about the Georgians, of course, who are decimating opponents like flies inside the Octagon. What makes the Georgians a dominant force like the Dagestanis previously were? Well, that’s what we’re here to discuss. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.

A Ruthless Pressure Style That Breaks Opponents

Let’s get one thing clear, just like Dagestanis, Georgians are a tough bunch of people. Just like how Dagestan had to witness wars and hardships, so did Georgia. As a result, veteran fighters like Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria are bred from the same mentality that makes up fighters like Islam Makhachev or Umar Nurmagomedov..

“We are a tough people, we used to have war all the time,” Dvalishvili, told RFE/RL. “Because we have such nice territory, enemies always used to come to our country and always we used to defend ourselves, our families, our land.”

Georgian fighters don’t just win—they can drown opponents in their relentless pressure. Their pace, constant forward movement, and high-volume wrestling make it almost impossible for opponents to keep up. This is similar to Dagestani wrestling pressure but with more emphasis on cardio and striking aggression, making them more formidable in lengthy fights. These similarities in the fighter’s styles from these countries make them formidable opponents to each other.

Dvalishvili grew up in Georgia’s western Imereti region where many villagers were farmers. The young Dvalishvili saw severe poverty and at times, his own family survived on only cornbread. The family moved to Tbilisi when Dvalishvili was nine. Does this ring a bell?

Well, Khabib faced something similar as he grew up in a small village in the Republic of Dagestan. He was born into a family of wrestlers, with his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, serving as his coach and mentor. His family struggled to make ends meet especially due to hardships in Russia. These harsh similarities make the Dagestanis and Georgians have a common ground but this makes them a more formidable rival in UFC.

Elite Wrestling Without the Predictability

Now let’s get to the fighting styles of the fighters from the two countries. Unlike Dagestanis, who depend on chain wrestling and top control, Georgians mix up dynamic takedowns with striking fluidity. They don’t just shoot for traditional single or double legs—they use judo trips, clinch throws, and unorthodox level changes that make their wrestling unpredictable. This adaptability makes them harder to prepare for, compared to fighters with a more rigid Sambo approach.

Merab Dvalishvili has a background in judo and sambo, which is a wrestling-heavy martial arts style and was developed for the Red Army. What’s more? The constant forward pressure and amazing cardio earned Dvalishvili the moniker ‘The Machine’.

On top of that, Merab Dvalishvili also defeated  Umar Nurmagomedov’ at UFC 311 and broke the latter’s undefeated record. On the other hand, Ilia Topuria won against Max Holloway at UFC 308 giving the latter his first KO loss in UFC.

Iron Chins and an Unshakable Warrior Mentality

Last but not least, Georgians have a warrior mentality. Georgian fighters have a reputation for their insane durability and refusal to quit. Whether it’s eating huge shots and still marching forward or winning fights while injured, they embody an unbreakable mindset. This makes them especially dangerous in deep waters—when other fighters fade, they turn up the intensity.

We saw this with Dvalishvili who, despite being injured in his training camp before UFC 311, fought relentlessly inside the Octagon and won. He not only defeated Umar but also took a jab at the pride of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who always touted Team Dagestan as superior in UFC. Khabib had remarked, “In the UFC, Umar will soon be the second one…. when it comes to MMA, Dagestan, Russia, we’re on a different level.” However, Dvalishvili proved him wrong despite being injured. As fans were aware, the Georgian entered the fight nursing a severe injury—a persistent wound on his shin that he sustained a month before the fight.

Dvalishvili shared the same in a post-fight interview with Megan Olivi, stating, “I don’t have my phone with me, but I’ll maybe post a picture later. Back in November, I got big cuts on my legs, and they just started healing up around Wednesday…The cuts got infected, and every time someone touched me or I was wrestling or kicking, it was really painful.”

What do you think? Are the Georgians here to take over the dominance of the Dagestanis or will the latter keep their top spot in the sport? Drop your thoughts in the comments down below.