Merab Dvalishvili: Wedding| Who did lose to| Who has lost to

Merab Dvalishvili: Wedding, Who Did He Lose To, Who Has He Lost To

Merab Dvalishvili is one of the most feared bantamweight fighters in the UFC, known for relentless pressure, wrestling dominance, and an iron chin. But behind the façade of “The Machine,” fans often wonder: What is his wedding or relationship status? And perhaps more central to his fight legacy — who has he lost to, and whom has he beaten? This article delves into both his personal and professional life, giving you a complete view.

1. Personal Life & Wedding / Romance Status

1.1 Is Merab Dvalishvili Married?

As of mid-2025, there is no verified public record confirming that Merab Dvalishvili is married. According to multiple sources, he has not publicly disclosed a spouse, and there is little to no evidence of romantic announcements or wedding photos.

In an interview, Dvalishvili said, “Eventually, I think I’m going to get married and have kids… then I will just be more smart.”  This suggests that while marriage is in his future plans, it has not yet arrived.

1.2 Has He Been in a Relationship?

Again, public information is scarce. His social media and public statements primarily focus on fighting and training. Some speculative articles suggest he has had relationships in the past that didn’t reach marriage, but nothing reliable is confirmed.

1.3 Wedding Gift to Aljamain Sterling

While Merab may not have gotten married himself, he did draw headlines for a generous wedding gift gesture. After a recent UFC win, he announced he would split his bonus with his close friend and training partner Aljamain Sterling, who was getting married.

Sterling, a former bantamweight champion, has received praise from fans as they viewed this as a meaningful gesture of friendship and gratitude.

So in the “Wedding” aspect of your title, while Merab has not himself wed publicly, he has been tangentially involved in marriage celebrations and has expressed interest in marriage in the future.

2. Professional Career: Wins & Losses Overview

To understand “Who did he lose to” and “Who has lost to him,” we need to examine his full MMA record and then highlight key fights — especially in the UFC.

2.1 Overall Record

As of now, Merab Dvalishvili’s professional MMA record stands at 20 wins, 4 losses, 0 draws. On Sherdog, his record is listed as 20–4, with 3 KOs and 2 submissions among his 20 wins.

In the UFC, his record is particularly strong, given his 13-fight win streak (as of 2025) following early career setbacks.

2.2 Early Career Losses (Pre-UFC or Early UFC)

Merab’s four losses came relatively early in his career or in the early UFC stages. Below is a breakdown:

Frankie Saenz defeat: This was Merab’s first UFC loss, decided by a split decision in his early UFC run. 
Ricky Simón defeat: This is often cited as his final UFC loss before his long winning streak. Some accounts even note a bizarre twist: Merab claimed he knocked himself out in the process of a takedown attempt, leading to the technical submission finish. 
Darren Mima & Ricky Bandejas: These earlier defeats occurred before Merab’s rise to prominence, in regional circuits. Sportskeeda and related sources report them.

After those losses, he went on a long win streak in the UFC, rarely giving his opponents much hope.

2.3 Who Has He Defeated? (Notables)

Merab’s record is full of high-level wins — especially in the UFC bantamweight division. Here are some of the most significant (and recent) names he has defeated, and how:

• Sean O’Malley – In UFC 306 (September 2024), Merab defeated O’Malley via unanimous decision over five rounds to capture the UFC bantamweight title.

• Umar Nurmagomedov – In his first title defense, Merab defeated Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision.

• Petr Yan – He beat former champion Petr Yan via unanimous decision in March 2023.

• Henry Cejudo – Merab defeated Cejudo in February 2024 by unanimous decision.

• José Aldo, Marlon Moraes, and many others in his UFC run also stand as wins on his record.

• Raufeon Stots – While not in the UFC, Stots is significant: in 2017, Merab knocked out Stots with a spinning backfist in 15 seconds. That KO earned him attention and UFC interest.

One particularly interesting fact: Raufeon Stots has said both his only MMA losses were to Merab Dvalishvili and to Patchy Mix.

So in short: Many top fighters have lost to Merab — O’Malley, Yan, Cejudo, Nurmagomedov, etc.

2.4 Recent Performance & Title Defenses

As of 2025, Merab is not only champion but defending his title. At UFC 320, he delivered a dominant performance over Cory Sandhagen, winning by unanimous decision.

That win marks yet another ascent in his streak, reinforcing that he’s no longer just a contender — he’s a dominant champion.

3. “Who Did He Lose To” vs. “Who Has Lost to Him” — A Comparative View

Let’s frame this in a narrative:

• “Who Did He Lose To”: Early in his career and early UFC run, Merab lost to Frankie Saenz (split decision) and Ricky Simón (technical submission, with controversy). Before that, in regional bouts, he lost to Darren Mima and Ricky Bandejas.

• “Who Has Lost to Him”: In his prime and title phase, Merab has defeated major names like Sean O’Malley, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, Umar Nurmagomedov, José Aldo, Marlon Moraes, and even KO’d Raufeon Stots.

Thus, while his early career had setbacks, his later record is marked by dominance over top competitors.

4. Upsets, Controversies & Bizarre Loss

One of the most talked-about moments in Merab’s career is the Ricky Simón fight. Some analysts and Merab himself have described the way he lost as bizarre: he claims he accidentally knocked himself out while attempting a takedown, leading to a technical submission.

That strange finish has been repeatedly referenced as the “final UFC loss” before his long undefeated streak.

Another interesting note: in his fight against Petr Yan, Merab attempted 49 takedowns — setting a UFC record for most takedown attempts in a single fight.

Also, Raufeon Stots has publicly noted that his only two career losses in MMA were to Merab Dvalishvili and Patchy Mix — a testament to Merab’s dominance in certain matchups. Merab Dvalishvili losses.

5. Timeline & Career Phases

Let’s break Merab’s career into short phases for clarity:

• Early career & regional circuits: Fought in smaller promotions, experienced losses to Darren Mima and Ricky Bandejas.

• Early UFC run: Entered UFC, suffered losses to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simón.

• Turning point & momentum shift: After those losses, Merab refocused, evolved his wrestling and cardio, and began a long win streak.

• Establishment & title run: He beat many upper echelon fighters, eventually defeating Sean O’Malley to win the UFC bantamweight title, then defended it successfully.

• Champion & dominant era: Now, Merab is in the champion’s phase, stacking up wins over challengers and cementing his legacy.

6. Why His Losses Matter & What They Reveal

No fighter is perfect, and Merab’s early defeats helped shape who he has become. Key lessons:

• Resilience & adaptation: Rather than being derailed by losses, he adapted and improved, especially in wrestling and cardio.

• Mental toughness: The controversial nature of his defeat to Simón and bouncing back shows he has mental grit.

• Peak vs. early career: Losses earlier in career are common; what matters is how a fighter grows afterward.

Likewise, the list of fighters who have lost to him underscores his reach and skill: he’s beaten champions, former champions, and top contenders across styles.

7. Possible Future Scenarios & Legacy

• Potential future losses: As champion, Merab will face top challengers. Losses might come, but only time will tell who can beat his style.

• Legacy as a GOAT contender: Many fans and analysts already argue that Merab is one of the greatest bantamweights ever, given his dominance and résumé.

• Wedding & family life: His personal life is still an open book, and if/when he marries, it will likely draw fan interest. Merab Dvalishvili losses.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is Merab Dvalishvili married?
A: No, as of current public knowledge, Merab is not married and has not publicly shared any wedding or spouse details.

Q2: Who has beaten Merab Dvalishvili?
A: He has four career losses — Frankie Saenz (split decision), Ricky Simón (technical submission), Darren Mima, and Ricky Bandejas (both in earlier regional fights).

Q3: Who has Merab Dvalishvili defeated?
A: He has beaten many top names, including O’Malley, Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, Henry Cejudo, José Aldo, Marlon Moraes, and knocked out Raufeon Stots, among others.

Q4: What is the bizarre nature of his loss to Ricky Simón?
A: Merab claims that during a takedown attempt, he inadvertently knocked himself out, resulting in a technical submission loss — a unique and strange outcome in MMA lore.

Q5: When did Merab win the UFC bantamweight title?
A: He captured the title by defeating Sean O’Malley in UFC 306 in September 2024 via unanimous decision.

Q6: Has Merab defended his title?
A: Yes. His first defense was against Umar Nurmagomedov (unanimous decision). In 2025, he also defeated Cory Sandhagen in a title fight. Merab Dvalishvili losses.

9. Conclusion

Merab Dvalishvili’s journey is a compelling mix of personal mystery and professional dominance. While his wedding or family life remains mostly private (and likely forthcoming), his fight résumé is transparent and extraordinary.

He lost early to Saenz and Simón (and earlier to regional fighters), but he has won over an impressive roster of UFC competitors (O’Malley, Yan, Nurmagomedov, Cejudo, and more). That arc—from early setbacks to champion—cements his status as one of the modern greats in the bantamweight division.