UFC Champ Merab Dvalishvili Almost Drowned in The River as a 6-Year-Old

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili talks about an incident from his childhood with Daniel Cormier.

UFC Champ Merab Dvalishvili Almost Drowned in The River as a 6-Year-Old

Merab Dvalishvili almost drowned when he was young (via X, Bloody Elbow)

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Over the years, stories of athletes overcoming extreme challenges have captured the public’s imagination, showing that resilience often starts long before professional careers take off. These experiences frequently shape not only physical abilities but also mental toughness. Such is the case for UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who recently revealed a story from his childhood in Georgia.

Dvalishvili is a fan favorite due to his antics both inside and outside the Octagon. The Georgian champion is renowned for his relentless cardio and high-pressure grappling, which he utilizes to dominate his opponents. However, he is known for his active social media presence and wild training videos that range from hanging from cliffs to rubbing stinging nettles all over his body to improve endurance.

As a child, Dvalishvili faced situations that demanded courage and quick thinking. One particularly daring moment occurred when he jumped into a river at the age of six, despite not knowing how to swim. He recently highlighted the experience on the premiere of The Daniel Cormier Show, which is hosted by UFC legend and former champion Daniel Cormier.

What happened was, my brother was swimming in a river. I jump in the river and make fun of him, and I say I can do same and then the water take me to deep water, the river was fast. The river just throw me and I was under the water. One of my brothers saw me. Then I grab a big rock under the water. Soon after, I learnt to swim. I was crazy; I did many crazy things.

Merab Dvalishvili via The Daniel Cormier Show

Cormier was visibly shocked by Dvalishvili’s story and asked him about a few other instances from his childhood. The Georgian star spoke about how he stomped on a horseshoe nail as a joke, and it went in all the way when he was young. These formative experiences undoubtedly played a significant role in developing the resilience and mental toughness that would later define his approach to MMA.

Dvalishvili has become a superstar in his home country of Georgia. He was born in Tbilisi, in Soviet-ruled Georgia, and grew up watching revolutions and protests. He trained in Sambo, Judo, and Kartuli ch’idaoba, a traditional form of Georgian wrestling. However, he later moved to the United States at the age of 21 and began training MMA under the Serra Longo Fight Team in New York.

Merab Dvalishvili’s journey from childhood bravery to elite competition highlights the broader patterns seen in combat sports, where personal history often informs professional performance. Athletes who confront challenges early in life frequently exhibit heightened resilience, which translates into their preparation and execution in high-pressure environments.

Merab Dvalishvili sends a warning to Cory Sandhagen ahead of UFC 320

There is no doubt that Merab Dvalishvili has cemented himself as one of the most dominant fighters to become the bantamweight champion. He has defeated the likes of Henry Cejudo, Sean O’Malley, and Umar Nurmagomedov to maintain his dominator status. The ‘Machine’ is known for his high-pressure domination and control that usually ends in decision victories, but has failed to entertain fans.

Merab Dvalishvili sends knockout warning to Cory Sandhagen
Merab Dvalishvili sends knockout warning to Cory Sandhagen (via MMA Fighting)

However, his coach recently revealed that Dvalishvili is working to improve his striking, aiming to deliver more exciting performances and knockouts. The Georgian contender is set to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 and recently posted a video on X as a warning to the ‘Sandman’. He demonstrated dangerous striking and had some words of warning for his upcoming opponent.

I’m sorry, Cory. You’re going to sleep

Merab Dvalishvili via X

Sandhagen, a dynamic and versatile fighter, poses a unique challenge with his speed and striking variety. Observers noted that Merab Dvalishvili’s ability to maintain pressure over all rounds and control the pace of the fight will be crucial factors in his strategy to neutralize Sandhagen’s strengths. It remains to be seen if fans get to see a new version of the Georgian star at UFC 320.

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