Merab Dvalishvili explains his ‘Machine Choke’ submission over Sean O’Malley at UFC 316

Merab Dvalishvili really is a Machine.

On Saturday, Dvalishvili successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title for the second time, submitting Sean O’Malley in their rematch in the main event of UFC 316. The win was the 13th consecutive victory for Dvalishvili, and arguably the most dominant performance of the champion’s career, something Dvalishvili puts down to his growing confidence as champion.

“First time, I said, this one I was fighting for the belt,” Dvalishvili said at the UFC 316 post-fight press conference. “I wanted to win this. I know I was winning, and I don’t risk it too much. I wanted to just grab it one time. I just wanted to win one time. Now, I risk — not risk, but I play more open. I wanted to win the first time, especially against a dangerous opponent like Sean O’Malley.”

Dvalishvili’s more aggressive style certainly paid dividends as “The Machine” recorded just his second finish in the UFC - and his first submission. Perhaps more impressively, it was also a special submission, a modified north-south choke with a ninja choke grip, which Dvalishvili would like to have named after himself.

“I don’t know name, sorry. But I’m hitting this choke in the gym, usually in jiu-jitsu,” Dvalishvili said. “ [Dvalishvili’s coach] John Wood was always begging me to, in the sparring, hit more submissions. I never complained once, because in sparring we have big, puffy gloves, we have wraps, it’s very hard to attack ... I don’t even try in sparring, but in jiu-jitsu I do this. I was doing it in training, so now I did [it]. ... Hey, let’s call it ‘Machine Choke!’”

At 13 consecutive wins, Dvalishvili is entering rarified air in UFC history, with some fans already declaring him the bantamweight GOAT. And while he’s already had two fights in 2025, Dvalishvili hopes to keep building that resume sooner rather than later, and he’s got his eyes on his next target already: Cory Sandhagen.

“Top of my head, he’s the best, deserving guy in this division right now,” Dvalishvili said. “Especially he was fighting always the best of the best. He’s a company guy, a very respectful guy, hard worker guy, super talented, super good, and I think he deserves the most. And if the UFC wants, I’m happy. I want to be busy.”