One of the best things the UFC-Venum partnership has yielded is rolling out custom shorts for its fighters for marquee events. Gone are the generic, anodyne shorts of yore, replaced with new ones that represent and encapsulate each fighter’s unique personality and what they hold dear. In the case of Merab Dvalishvili, who is a proud Georgian, his shorts for UFC 311 are the red and white color of his homeland’s flag.

In addition, at the back of the shorts, there are a few lines of text in Georgian, which embody ‘The Machine’s qualities perfectly. After all, the text on his shorts is an old Georgian proverb, which translates to: “It is better to die with honor than to live in disgrace”. According to Instagram user ‘Kupra_Jr.’, this proverb is from the epic medieval poem ‘The Knight in the Panther’s Skin’, and reflects “the deeply rooted cultural values of honor, dignity, and bravery in Georgian society.”

In fact, the proverb is not only written on the shorts but is also visually represented there. If you look closely at the left leg, it has a figure of a knight riding a horse and fighting a tiger with a spear. According to Kupra, this knight is “the heroic Avtandil, one of the main figures from the poem, courageously battling a tiger—a symbol of his unwavering strength and determination.”

On the right leg, there is another figure, which apparently is Saint George, who is “Georgia’s patron saint, revered as a symbol of bravery, faith, and protection.” Together, they represent the values of resilience, honor, and Christianity, which, according to Kupra, “define Georgian culture.” And the bantamweight champ will certainly need to muster these ancestral qualities if he wants to beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.

Why will Merab Dvalishvili have to undergo trial by fire at UFC 311?

Merab Dvalishvili may not think Umar Nurmagomedov deserves the title shot partly because of all the ‘disrespect’ he has gotten from the contender. But he certainly respects his abilities as a fighter. After all, the Dagestani is undefeated and has a remarkably well-rounded game based around his world-class wrestling skills, along with a remarkably dynamic and dangerous striking game.

‘The Machine’, of course, has excellent grappling himself, and a legendary gas tank. But, his striking is nowhere near the level of the Dagestani. This is why many feel that Nurmagomedov will emerge as the new champion after UFC 311. But perhaps these people are forgetting something.

The symbolism and meaning of the imagery and text on Dvalishvili’s shorts not only emplify the Georgian national character but also ‘The Machine’s character. Resilience, bravery, and faith (in himself) are things that Dvalishvili has in droves. While it is true that styles make fights, perhaps the most important thing in a fight is character and sheer strength of will.

Both of these are words that come to mind when one thinks of the bantamweight champ. That is precisely why no one should be surprised if ‘The Machine’ pulls off a victory at UFC 311. What do you think about Merab Dvalishvili’s custom shorts for his first title defense?