Coach Ray Longo reveals that Merab Dvalishvili ‘warmed up’ for his UFC 298 clash by going 3×5 rounds with former champ Aljamain Sterling.
On the Anik and Florian podcast, Ray Longo revealed that the Georgian sensation’s warm-up for his fight against Cejudo included a 15-minute fight simulation with Aljamain Sterling, described as ‘chaos’ by the veteran coach.
Merab Dvalishvili won a decision victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 and thanks to yet another impressive performance, was guaranteed the next title fight by Dana White at the post-fight press conference.
Merab’s warm-up routine is ‘chaos’ personified
If you were to rank five MMA fighters who best encapsulate their nickname, Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili would certainly feature near its pinnacle.
It turns out that that grinding, never-step-backwards mindset applies as much to his warmup routine as it does his fighting style.
On the latest episode of the Anik and Florian podcast, Longo shared how whilst some athletes do a shakeout before they compete, Merab “literally fought Aljo, f-ing brutal, little gloves on, swinging for the f-ing fence.”
Longo claims that Sterling and Dvalishvili “went at it three fives” with the Cejudo victory meaning “that’s his second fight of the night.”
“Full blown f-ing fight, I go ‘Aljo, your cardio looks pretty good, we’re in good shape for your fight that’s in like two months’. [It’s] crazy, the guy is nuts, no drilling, just complete chaos.”
Dvalishvili earned himself a decision victory over former world champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 298, cracking Cejudo multiple times with powerful hooks and making good on his superior grappling.
The Georgian also made headlines when he started talking to Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg mid-fight, as well as when he lifted the Olympic champ high into the air and walked across the cage before slamming yet another takedown.
At the post-fight press conference, Dana White confirmed that Merab would be next in line for a title shot at 135lbs, with the belt set to be defended at UFC 299 next month when Sean O’Malley takes on Marlon Vera.