There are very few fighters in the UFC who have had a rise like Merab Dvalishvili. The 33-year-old Georgian fighter proved to the world that anything is possible if you put in the work. ‘The Machine’ is currently unbeaten in his last ten fights and is the number one contender in the bantamweight division. But it’s not only his fighting skills that have caught the attention of the fans but rather his tattoo.

Dvalishvili has a tattoo on his chest that depicts the Georgian flag, and the 33-year-old is proud to represent the country. But not many know the story behind the tattoo. So, let us find out what exactly happened.

Merab Dvalishvili explains the story behind the ‘Georgia’ chest tattoo

For any fighter, representing their country is one of the biggest motivations, and Merab Dvalishvili is no different. The UFC initially allowed its fighters to display their country’s representation during most fights. However, the UFC changed its rules in April 2022 and banned the use of flags in any of their events. The UFC implemented the rule amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war but later revoked it, but Dvalishvili did face its consequences. This hampered the spirit of the Georgian fighter, but he found a special way to deal with the setback. What did he do? He got himself a ‘Georgia’ tattoo on his chest before his fight with Petr Yan in 2023.

Xcellent MMA took to their Instagram account to share a video four days back where ‘The Machine’ described the whole process. While speaking to the host, he said, ‘I was wearing a Georgian necklace. I got an email from UFC. They said I am not allowed to have this on anymore.” Dvalishvili further continued and made it clear that carrying his country’s flag was one of his biggest motivations, and the ban hampered it. Hence, he came up with an ingenious idea and got himself a tattoo.

He further added, “I started fighting because I want to represent my country. That’s my number one motivation. And I got a tattoo bro. A nice tattoo.” Dvalishvili is not the first person to use tattoos to circumvent UFC rules. UFC legend Jose Aldo once used a temporary tattoo back in 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183 to give a shoutout to the Brazilian Navy.

Since his fight in 2023, Dvalishvili has come a long way in his career. He has beaten some of the biggest names in the division and will now be challenging for the title at UFC 306 next against Sean O’Malley. However, things were never smooth for the now number-one contender in the division. As he prepares himself for the most important fight of his career, we take a look at the journey he underwent from his childhood days.

Merab Dvalishvili’s early life in Georgia

Merab Dvalishvili’s journey to the top of the UFC is a story of sheer determination and sacrifice. In recent times, ‘The Machine’ has made a lot of fans for his fighting style and tenacity. But no one really thought that this fighter from Georgia would one day become the number one contender.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Dvalishvili started his MMA journey at a very young age and later drifted towards wrestling. However, the 33-year-old had to face a lot of challenges as he had no sponsor to support his athletic career. He took up grueling construction jobs for seven years, along with training for his fights.

There was even a time in his career when he wanted to give up on his dream of becoming a UFC fighter. He recently appeared in the ‘7 Days Out’ on Anatomy of a Fighter episode, where he looked back on one of the toughest times of his career. He said, ‘‘I was thinking no, I should just maybe; I have a lot of fights in Georgia. I have not fights in here like if I don’t go UFC I must quit”. Thankfully, the Georgian fighter never quit and will now have the opportunity to fulfill his dream at the Las Vegas Sphere. Dvalishvili is aware of the threat O’Malley possesses and respects him as a fighter.

However, he has made it clear that he will push the champion and work extremely hard to win the title. Do you think we will see Merab Dvalishvili walk out as the new champion at UFC 306? Let us know about it in the comments below.