Merab Dvakishvili’s fighting style and combat background have garnered attention in the world of MMA. The UFC bantamweight fighter, originally from Georgia, has impressed with his relentless wrestling and ground-and-pound tactics. Ahead of his upcoming fight at UFC 298, Dvakishvili faces a formidable opponent in the former flyweight and bantamweight champion. With his well-rounded sambo and wrestling skills, Dvakishvili poses a significant challenge in this stylistic matchup.
Dvakishvili’s foundation lies in wrestling, a discipline he has trained in since childhood. His experience includes judo, sambo, and various folk styles, having represented Georgia in international competitions before transitioning to MMA. Utilizing his wrestling skills, Dvakishvili overwhelms opponents with swift takedowns, making it difficult for them to defend against his powerful shots and trips.
On the ground, Dvakishvili delivers punishing strikes, swarming opponents with fierce punches and elbows. This relentless pressure breaks their will and forces them to expend energy in attempts to escape. In addition to his ground game, Dvakishvili has developed solid stand-up skills. While not known for knockout power, his striking complements his takedowns effectively. Furthermore, his exceptional cardio enables him to maintain a fast pace throughout the fight, wearing down opponents until the final bell.
Dvakishvili’s combat sambo training has played a vital role in shaping his well-rounded abilities. This Russian martial art combines wrestling, judo, and striking, emphasizing throws, submissions, and fighting in various ranges. Dvakishvili competed in the World Sambo Championship in South Korea in 2019, finishing as the runner-up in the 68 kg category. Similar to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dvakishvili utilizes his sambo skills to control fights, timing takedowns effectively and dominating opponents on the ground. However, Dvakishvili incorporates more striking into his game compared to Khabib, engaging more on the feet and attempting a wider range of takedowns.
In summary, Merab Dvakishvili’s impressive fighting style, rooted in his wrestling background and enhanced by his combat sambo training, makes him a formidable force in the bantamweight division. With his relentless wrestling, ground strikes, and solid stand-up skills, Dvakishvili poses a significant challenge to any opponent.
According to the Source firstsportz.com