Fresh off a dominant submission win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, Merab Dvalishvili is already eyeing his next big challenge— Alexandre Pantoja.
Dvalishvili, who extended his win streak to 13 and cemented his status as the UFC bantamweight champion, is open to facing UFC flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja—if the Brazilian decides to move up to 135 pounds.
Speaking on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Dvalishvili made it clear he respects Pantoja and would welcome the opportunity to face him.
“If he moves up to my weight class and the UFC is interested, I have no problem with that,” Dvalishvili said. “I respect Pantoja. He’d be a tough opponent for me, and I’m sure a lot of people would want to see that fight.”
At this point, Dvalishvili doesn’t have a confirmed next opponent. Cory Sandhagen seems like the obvious next title challenger, but names like Petr Yan and Umar Nurmagomedov are still in the mix. Despite the options, Dvalishvili’s openness to a cross-division clash shows he’s not just looking to defend—he’s chasing legacy.
Dvalishvili has got momentum on his side. After dominating a fully-prepared O’Malley, UFC President Dana White even hinted at Dvalishvili creeping into the bantamweight GOAT conversation.
“We’ve been talking about what it’ll take to beat him—and I don’t know,” White said after UFC 316. “O’Malley came in 100% ready, and Merab finished him. He’s definitely in that conversation.”
Meanwhile, Pantoja is gearing up for his own title defense against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. If he gets past that test, a jump to bantamweight might be on the table—and Dvalishvili is ready.
Both fighters have largely cleared out their divisions. Dvalishvili has beaten a long list of former champions, while Pantoja has taken out top contenders, newcomers, and everyone in between. A clash between the two could be one of the most exciting champion vs. champion matchups in recent UFC memory.
Whether or not it happens, one thing is clear: Merab Dvalishvili isn’t just content with being champion—he wants to prove he’s the best, period. And if Alexandre Pantoja is willing to move up, The Machine is ready to meet him head-on.
