Known for his unmatched stamina and a daring persona outside the Octagon, Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion nicknamed “The Machine,” is perceived as almost superhuman. If he is, in fact, just a man, we should call him UFC’s latest ironman, a fighter impervious to common struggles like injuries, fatigue, or damage.

Dvalishvili (21-4), who will turn 35 this January, will test that reputation on Saturday, defending his 135-pound title against former champion Petr Yan (19-5) in a rematch that tops the UFC 323 pay-per-view card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With a victory, the Georgian native could become the first UFC champion to defend a title four times in one year, not to mention potentially earning MMA fighter of the year honors for 2025. A win would extend his current 14-fight win streak, putting him in a second-place tie with Kamaru Usman and just one behind the record held by Anderson Silva and Islam Makhachev. Not bad for a fighter who lost his first two UFC matches upon debuting in 2017 and has never looked back.

The narrative around this rematch stems from their first contest, where Yan claimed he fought with a broken hand and was at half capacity. In response, Dvalishvili laughs off those concerns, spelling out that he, too, has faced challenges.

“I’m just a regular guy, I have injuries too. But I work through them,” Dvalishvili said, expressing his singular focus once inside the Octagon. “Once I’m in the cage, that’s my realm. [It’s] no trouble.”

Dvalishvili’s legend grows as he breaks records, notably surpassing Georges St-Pierre for the most takedowns in UFC history, proving that his seemingly boundless energy is mythic in nature. His coaches recount tales of Dvalishvili’s stamina, including pre-fight warmups that may seem excessive to anyone else, like five rounds of sparring.

Meanwhile, while discussing the possible impact of training camps, Dvalishvili remains grounded about the burden of maintaining weight as he prepares for the fight. It isn’t lost on him that while he calls himself a “small bantamweight,” the weight cut always looms overhead.

His journey throughout the sport has been nothing short of extraordinary, proving not only his physical prowess but also his mental fortitude. Dvalishvili reminds us that such achievements are a byproduct of hard work, and he remains devoted to improving each year, regardless of the weight challenges he faces.