The latest UFC bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, made a shocking revelation about working in construction until 2020.
The Georgian fighter became the new king of bantamweight after defeating Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision at UFC 306. The title came as a well-deserved win for the 135-pound Dvalishvili, who has worked hard over the years and climbed the ranks to get his title shot.
Although Merab Dvalishvili is all smiles at the moment, it wasn’t always easy for him. In a recent sit-down with Jake Shields on Fight Back, the fighter talked about how broke he was during his journey and how he had to take up full-time construction work to sustain himself and cover his expenses.
“So I lost my first fight in UFC, and we know how UFC pay, it’s not well in the beginning,” Merab said. “2020, when COVID hit. Yeah, I was in UFC. So, I lost my first fight in UFC, and we know how UFC pays. “$10,000 and you still have to pay your manager and some expenses. I buy car. I was driving very old car, and then no money. In my second fight, I got bonus, but I took off, I stop working. But when my next fight comes, I was broke again because I spent all this money. And I’m like like, now what?”
“Second fight, I got bonus, and I stopped working. But when my next fight comes I was broke again because I spent all this money and I’m like, now what? When I win the next one, I keep the money and start working because I don’t want this to happen again.”
Luckily for the fighter, his efforts paid off, and he is not enjoying the fruits of his labor. Merab’s win over O’Malley marked his 11th consecutive win at the UFC.
“Now that I have a good training in Vegas, I have so many training partners,” he said. “I can go jujitsu. I can sparring, the MMA practice. So I rather do that.”
