Khalil Rountree’s Wild Merab Dvalishvili’s Story of Sparring 5 Rounds Hours Before Fight Stuns Fans

UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr reveals Merab Dvalishvili's intense training session just hours before UFC 320 title fight.

Khalil Rountree’s Wild Merab Dvalishvili’s Story of Sparring 5 Rounds Hours Before Fight Stuns Fans

Khalil Rountree Jr reveals Merab Dvalishvili's intense training (via MMA Mania, Instagram)

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In a sport where preparation often determines performance, stories of extreme dedication continue to capture attention. Fighters train relentlessly, pushing both physical and mental boundaries to gain every possible advantage once they step into the cage. Recently, UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr highlighted the intensity of bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili’s approach to competition.

Rountree and Dvalishvili both train at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, a well-known gym that has become a hub for fighters across several top promotions. Many fighters, such as Roxanne Modafferi and Donald Cerrone, have trained at the popular gym. It’s within this demanding environment that the two fighters have shared training sessions, allowing Rountree to witness firsthand the intensity of Dvalishvili’s ethic.

Dvalishvili recently took on Cory Sandhagen and put on an impressive performance at UFC 320. He defended his title for the third time and increased his winning streak to 14 fights. Known for his relentless cardio and grappling, Dvalishvili delivered in every aspect at UFC 320. Rountree recently spoke about how the Georgian champion pulled off an amazing feat hours before the co-main event against Sandhagen.

I promise you this is a 100% true story. At 12 o’clock in the afternoon on fight day, Saturday, October 4th, Merab sparred 5 rounds in the cage live on the day of his fight. At 12 o’clock, not even half a day before he had to be in the arena.

Khalil Rountree Jr via JAXXON Podcast

Dvalishvili’s style inside the Octagon is built around endurance and pressure. His ability to maintain high output throughout multiple rounds has been one of his defining traits. This revelation about his sparring helps explain how he maintains such conditioning and has consistently pushed himself beyond conventional limits to beat the likes of Sean O’Malley, Jose Aldo, and Henry Cejudo.

This isn’t the first time Dvalishvili’s training habits have drawn attention. He is known for engaging in marathon grappling sessions, spontaneous hill sprints, and extended gym hours, often going far beyond standard training expectations. His ability to thrive under these conditions has made him one of the most conditioned fighters in the UFC, earning him a reputation for outworking nearly everyone he faces.

Merab Dvalishvili continues to represent a new breed of athlete who thrives on chaos and physical adversity. His willingness to spar, push, and exhaust himself even on fight day reveals a mindset centered around resilience and adaptation. The insight shared by Khalil Rountree only adds to the legend of a fighter whose preparation is as unpredictable and wild as his performances inside the Octagon.

Fans react to Khalil Rountree Jr’s revelation of Merab Dvalishvili’s sparring routine

Merab Dvalishvili’s growing internet presence has made him one of the more recognizable figures in the UFC outside the Octagon. Fans often enjoy his energetic personality, positive attitude, and constant engagement with teammates and supporters online. His training clips frequently go viral, showing the same enthusiasm and relentlessness that he brings to competition.

Merab Dvalishvili training
Merab Dvalishvili training (via Instagram)

After hearing about his intense fight-day sparring session from Khalil Rountree Jr, many fans expressed a mix of admiration and concern. Some praised his incredible work ethic and conditioning, calling it another example of his warrior mentality. Others, however, worried that pushing his body to such extremes could eventually lead to burnout or injury. Here are some fan reactions:

A smaller portion of fans questioned whether such endurance could be achieved naturally. A few fans speculated about the possibility of performance-enhancers, with some specifically bringing up EPO due to its association with improved cardio. While there’s no evidence to support these claims, the discussion reflects how Merab Dvalishvili’s unbelievable stamina continues to spark both admiration and curiosity.

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