Merab Dvalishvili

Merab is a fascinating fighter because he didn’t start out that way. His UFC entry was a disappointing 2 losses in a row.

Then Merab revamped his game. He added pieces of offense to better connect his game, won 14 fights in a row, and became **the best bantamweight of all time. He also set the UFC takedown record in the process.

Most impressive to me is that Merab’s grappling style defines modern fence wrestling as a unique grappling art. In other words, Merab is making the meta.

In MMA’s early years, grapplers were seen either as wrestlers or submission fighters, commonly jiujitsu practitioners. As the game evolved, the wrestlers learned how to submit people, the submission stylists picked up better takedowns, and they both learned to fight along the fence. But in the past few years, fence wrestling has evolved to include distinct trips, foot sweeps, and throws that are more common in judo. Famed grappling coach Justin Flores calls this “wall waza” and Merab might be the best practitioner of it.

Usually when we study athletes on the Help Desk we go through the habits and techniques that defined their career. Here we’re going to do something a little different. We’re going to start with who Merab was, explain what he added, and then review the final, pound for pound great product.

When Merab entered the UFC he looked liked a basic and boring wrestler. He’d shoot a lot, get chest to chest, and then shoot some more.

Merab had the scaffolding of a good fighter when he debuted in the UFC. Tough, good takedowns, and great cardio. But he didn’t have much after he got his opponent’s off of their feet.