![Chael Sonnen had words of appreciation for Merab Dvalishvili [Image Courtesy: @sonnench and @merab.dvalishvili on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/9a84c-17374832487730-1920.jpg)
![Chael Sonnen had words of appreciation for Merab Dvalishvili [Image Courtesy: @sonnench and @merab.dvalishvili on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has shared his reaction to Merab Dvalishvili's dominant performance against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. Dvalishvili entered the first defense of his title as an unexpected underdog, much to his own surprise.
Once in the octagon, the 34-year-old showcased his skills, dominating Nurmagomedov in the final three rounds. The challenger had no answer for the relentless pace set by 'The Machine' and appeared exhausted in the championship rounds.
Reacting to the performance, Chael Sonnen praised Dvalishvili as the most dominant bantamweight of all time. 'The Bad Guy' stated that Dvalishvili's conditioning is his superpower, and it is unmatched.
In a video he posted on Instagram, Sonnen said:
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"This is the most dominant 135 pounder ever. He lost every single aspect in the first round. Merab starts to get his confidence and he’s got a conditioning that can’t be explained and it can’t be taught. Don’t bother trying to find Merab’s workout and doing it. That is DNA. That is Merab’s superpower and he started to find that in round three. This is incredible. He got that title opportunity after winning ten in a row, go back and check those scoreboards. He’s going through everybody."
Check out Chael Sonnen's comments below:
Merab Dvalishvili open to rematch against Sean O'Malley: "Yes sir, I will fight Sean again"
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili recently revealed he is open to a rematch against former champion Sean O'Malley this year. Dvalishvili won the bantamweight championship in September 2024 by defeating O'Malley in a one-sided affair. Since then, O'Malley has been seeking a rematch with 'The Machine.'
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, the 34-year-old stated he wouldn't be opposed to the fight if the promotion decides to go forward with it:
"Yes, looks like maybe he's my next opponent, but who knows? I want to fight [the] best option. Whoever is the best next and I just want to be busy...Yes sir, I will fight Sean [O'Malley] again if UFC ask me to do it."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below:
