In a historic move, the Georgian government has honored UFC star Merab Dvalishvili with a 1 million Lari as a gift. This reward comes after Dvalishvili’s remarkable UFC championship victory over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in the Sphere. Georgian heritage in the UFC grows as he joins close friend Ilia Topuria as a Georgian champion in the promotion.
His victory has not only earned him a place among the sport’s elite but also made him a national hero in Georgia. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili praised Dvalishvili’s achievement, calling it a milestone for Georgian sports. The government of Georgia gifted Dvalishvili a million Georgian Lari for becoming a UFC champion (approx. $367,666).
The government’s financial reward is seen as a token of appreciation for Dvalishvili’s efforts to raise Georgia’s profile on the global stage. Topuria and Dvalishvili’s championship win marks a new chapter in Georgian sports history. Their hard work will inspire a new generation of fighters.
🚨 Government of Georgia gifted Merab Dvalishvili a million Georgian Lari for becoming the UFC Champion. (approx. $367,666)
Merab Dvalishvili said that he will give this money to charities and develop the MMA Teams and BJJ/Judo/Wrestling clubs in order to raise more UFC… pic.twitter.com/IkjJQUKPMp
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) September 30, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili has a deep passion for his country. In the past, he got visibly frustrated when he fought Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. The UFC star admitted he didn’t like Russian politics due to geographical tensions between Russia and Georgia.
Meanwhile, Cejudo spoke in Russian to get under his skin. ‘The Machine’ clearly didn’t appreciate the sentiments due to suffering from the Russian regime. The love Dvalishvili has for his country appears to be reciprocated by his compatriots towards him.
Merab Dvalishvili gets Hero’s welcome
After his win at Noche UFC in Las Vegas, Merab Dvalishvili received a hero’s welcome back in Georgia. Dvalishvili and Topuria are both Georgian-born fighters who won a UFC title in 2024. At UFC 298, when ‘El Matador’ won the featherweight belt, ‘The Machine’ fought on the undercard. Both of them received overwhelming cheers as Georgians watched the PPV in a public setting.
Merab Dvalishvili gets a hero’s welcome on return to Georgia (via Imago)The Georgian champion has also pledged to donate the gift to charities and MMA gyms nationwide to cultivate more champions from the nation. Yet, it was the hero’s welcome he received on his return to his homeland that made headlines.
‘The Machine’ is a superstar! 💫@MerabDvalishvil receiving a hero’s welcome in Georgia 🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/gRHj6HR6sW
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 30, 2024
The Georgian superstar might not wait too long to return to the UFC octagon. He has been going back and forth with Umar Nurmagomedov. The champ has yet to decide on an opponent for his first title defense as he awaits UFC’s decision.
