INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Merab Dvalishvili thinks he’s running out of opponents at 135 pounds.
After completing his first title defense, the UFC bantamweight champion had a tough time seeing a clear next challenger for him. Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) defeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a unanimous decision in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 311, which took place at Intuit Dome.
Although it was his first title defense, Dvalishvili is now on an impressive 12-fight winning streak. He holds wins over the top three contenders in the official rankings of the division, and has defeated four former champions – which makes his options thin outside rematches.