Veteran commentator Jon Anik believes the evidence is clear: Merab Dvalishvili has already earned the title of bantamweight GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Dvalishvili is scheduled to defend his title this Saturday in a rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316. This will be Dvalishvili’s second title defense. A victory would extend his winning streak to 13 and mark his fifth win over a former UFC champion. However, Anik contends that even if O’Malley wins the rematch, Dvalishvili, known as “The Machine,” has already secured his place in history.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Anik stated, “I do believe he already has status as the greatest bantamweight of all time.” He acknowledged his close friendship with Dominick Cruz, a fellow bantamweight legend, humorously noting Cruz would be a groomsman at his wedding. Despite this personal connection, Anik feels Dvalishvili`s record in the current era is unparalleled. He highlighted Dvalishvili`s potential 14-0 UFC record, noting his only losses were a defeat to Frankie Saenz and a controversial finish against Ricky Simon, followed by 12 consecutive victories.
Anik detailed Dvalishvili`s path, saying, “He left a murderer’s row of champions in his wake before he even fought for the title.” He listed wins over Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Jose Aldo, and Sean O’Malley. Anik also mentioned his title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov, adding, “Now the rematch with Sean O’Malley? As far as I’m concerned, with respect to Aljamain Sterling and my BFF Dominick Cruz, the greatest of all time, not so quietly, is Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili.”
The debate over the bantamweight GOAT is often complex. While Dominick Cruz holds five title defenses and won seven bantamweight title bouts across UFC and WEC, his career was frequently disrupted by injuries during his prime. Statistically, Cruz`s title fight record is impressive. However, Anik emphasizes the level of competition faced. Despite Cruz`s notable victories over former champions like Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson, Anik still favors Dvalishvili.
Anik conceded a bias towards contemporary mixed martial arts. He explained, “I didn’t call a lot of Dominick Cruz’s prime, but the game has evolved.” He argued that top contenders today are significantly more skilled than those from earlier years like 2012, leading him to believe Dvalishvili represents the peak of the division.
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Upcoming Fights
- Khaos Williams (15-4) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (11-2) at UFC 316 on June 7
- Stephen Thompson (17-8-1) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (17-1-0) at UFC Nashville on July 12
Commentary
Writer Jed Meshew offered a counterpoint, suggesting that Jon Anik tends to undervalue the accomplishments of fighters from earlier eras, citing past comments about Jose Aldo and now Dominick Cruz. Meshew argued that using the “modern era is better” logic would simply mean the current champion is always the GOAT, as the sport continually evolves and improves.
