Aljamain Sterling’s Pre-Wedding ‘Plan’ Involving Merab Dvalishvili Leaves MMA Fans in Awe

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling talks about cornering Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320 for his title defense.

Aljamain Sterling’s Pre-Wedding ‘Plan’ Involving Merab Dvalishvili Leaves MMA Fans in Awe

Aljamain Sterling talks about pre wedding plans with Merab Dvalishvili (via MMA Fighting)

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MMA is one of the most violent sports in the world, with fighters facing major injuries and mental warfare every time they step into the Octagon. There have also been hate-filled rivalries between fighters that sometimes overflow outside the cage. However, the sport has also fostered a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among fighters. Such is the case for Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili is the UFC bantamweight champion and is on a 13-fight win streak. Meanwhile, Sterling most recently moved to the featherweight division. Both fighters share a sense of brotherhood and have backed each other. Sterling recently made an interesting revelation regarding Dvalishvili’s title defense at UFC 320, which is scheduled for the day before the Funk Master’s wedding.

Sterling recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show hosted by popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. The two spoke about a variety of topics, including Sterling’s recent fight at UFC Shanghai and his relationship with the bantamweight champion. He cleared Helwani’s doubts about cornering Dvalishvili at UFC 320 in Las Vegas despite his wedding being the next day.

Still super confident, I plan to still corner him the day before my wedding, and I’m super excited about it. It’s gonna be a crazy weekend just because of that. We got a lot of people coming over here to Vegas.

Aljamain Sterling via The Ariel Helwani Show

Sterling and Dvalishvili have trained together for years at the Serra-Longo Fight Team with former champion Chris Weidman, forging a close friendship both inside and outside the gym. Their bond has often been described as that of brothers rather than just teammates, making this decision a natural extension of their relationship.

The Georgian champion is set to fight Cory Sandhagen in his third title defence in the co-main event of the UFC 320 fight card. Dvalishvili had avenged Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley after he defeated ‘Suga’ at UFC 306 to win bantamweight gold. ‘The Machine’ was in the top rankings when Sterling was the champion, but both fighters refused to fight each other out of respect for their friendship.

The ‘Funk Master’ has been in a relationship for over a decade, and prioritizing his teammate just a day before his wedding speaks volumes about their brotherhood. This isn’t the first time Sterling has put his teammates before personal milestones. His choice to balance wedding preparations with corner duties has sparked admiration from fans and fellow fighters alike.

Aljamain Sterling is getting married to his decade-long girlfriend in Las Vegas

Aljamain Sterling is not only making headlines for his fighting career but also for his personal life. Sterling has been engaged to longtime partner Rebecca Cruz, with the couple set to tie the knot in Las Vegas on October 5, 2025. Their relationship has endured for over a decade, exemplifying the same resilience and loyalty that Sterling displays inside the cage and with his team.

Aljamain Sterling and Rebecca Cruz
Aljamain Sterling and Rebecca Cruz (via MMA Mania)

Cruz has made her own mark as a beauty and fitness professional. She is connected to the cosmetics industry through her work with NYX Professional Makeup and also runs her own brand. Sterling proposed to Cruz in 2021 and shared the news with fans through a heartfelt post. The two first met years before Sterling’s rise to UFC gold, and Cruz has been by his side throughout his professional journey.

As the 36-year-old prepares for new challenges in his fighting career, his personal life is also entering an exciting chapter. His relationship with Cruz reflects the balance he maintains between professional ambition and personal commitments. With their wedding set for October, fans will get to celebrate a different kind of victory for Aljamain Sterling.

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