Merab Dvalishvili aims to topple Islam Makhachev’s pace toward a historic UFC record, as both chase a GOAT-level legacy. Makhachev stands one win away from surpassing Anderson Silva, while Dvalishvili stays hot on their heels, ready to shake up the record books.
A history-making moment awaits this Saturday in Las Vegas, where the reigning UFC bantamweight champion returns to defend his title in the main event of UFC 323. Dvalishvili will step into the cage for a rematch against Petr Yan, marking the Georgian star’s fourth title defense in 2025 — a feat no champion has achieved in a single calendar year.
Known as a record-breaker, Makhachev recently became the first fighter to rack up 100 takedowns in a UFC year. Now a new challenge looms: a run at the consecutive-win record that mirrors the high-water marks set by all-time greats, including Anderson Silva, and the possibility of tying or surpassing those milestones in 2026.
Dvalishvili has been relentless, riding a 14-fight win streak that would bring him within one victory of the historic duo sharing the top spot if he secures a win at UFC 323.
In a conversation with Stake, Dvalishvili acknowledged the aspiration to break the consecutive-win record, noting that while the difficulty of achieving such a feat is immense, the drive to extend his streak remains strong. He emphasized the ongoing effort to maintain this momentum and strengthen his résumé with each performance.
Petr Yan, eager to derail Dvalishvili’s chase, comes into UFC 323 with his own hunger for revenge following their 2023 one-sided headliner. Yan hopes to turn the tide on Saturday and end Dvalishvili’s streak, delivering a decisive victory to reclaim momentum for his own championship ambitions.
The UFC 323 card also features Alexandre Pantoja defending the flyweight title against Joshua Van, who aims to become the promotion’s second-youngest champion in history. Yan’s goal is to conclude the event with a dramatic finish to dethrone the current champ, but achieving that will be no easy feat.
Dvalishvili’s only career knockdown came at the hands of Marlon Moraes—an early blow before Moraes’s dramatic comeback at UFC 266 in 2021. Yan will look to replicate that upset on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
—
Join the discussion: do you think Dvalishvili can break the consecutive-win record and close the gap on Silva and Makhachev? Share your thoughts in the comments, and tell us whether you see Yan pulling off the upset or if Dvalishvili’s streak continues.
