Merab Dvalishvili’s Insane Pre-Fight Routine Proves He’s in a League of His Own – But Is It Reckless or Revolutionary?
Khalil Rountree has seen firsthand what makes UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili one of the most relentless fighters in MMA—and it’s not just his performances in the octagon.
Both fighters train under the same coach, John Wood, who cornered them at UFC 320 last Saturday. While Rountree suffered a brutal third-round knockout loss to Jiří Procházka, Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Cory Sandhagen in a dominant showing. But here’s the jaw-dropping part: just hours before stepping into the cage for his title defense, Dvalishvili was already putting in a full training session—live sparring for five full rounds.
Yes, you read that right.
On the JAXXON Podcast, Rountree revealed the unbelievable truth: “At noon on fight day—Saturday, October 4—Merab sparred five full rounds in the cage. Live. Because that’s just who he is.” And this is the part most people miss: Dvalishvili doesn’t just show up on fight night—he brings the same intensity to every training session, treating the gym like it’s the actual octagon.
Dvalishvili’s legendary cardio, combined with his elite wrestling and ever-improving striking, has cemented his place among the pound-for-pound best in MMA today. Despite Sandhagen’s resilience, Dvalishvili nearly finished him with strikes in the second round before cruising to a unanimous decision win.
But let’s address the elephant in the room: Is sparring five full rounds on fight day genius or insanity? Some might argue it risks unnecessary fatigue or injury before the biggest fight of his career—but Dvalishvili clearly thrives on it. Rountree, awestruck, put it simply: “Most fighters rest, visualize, or do light cardio. I’ve never seen anyone spar five rounds hours before fighting another five. He’s a different breed.”
As for Rountree’s own fight, it was a tale of two rounds. He outclassed Procházka early, landing crisp strikes and controlling the pace—until the former champion unleashed his trademark berserker mode in the third, overwhelming Rountree with a relentless surge.
Rountree has been open about not wanting another war like his brutal encounter with Alex Pereira, which left him with severe facial damage. Reflecting on Procházka’s sudden shift in aggression, he speculated, “Maybe he had to dig deep, tell himself it was necessary to go to a dark place to win.” But here’s the controversial question: Should fighters have to push themselves to that extreme to succeed? Or is there a smarter way to compete at the highest level?
What do you think—is Dvalishvili’s pre-fight sparring a masterclass in preparation or a gamble with diminishing returns? And should fighters like Rountree avoid all-out brawls, or is that just part of the game? Drop your thoughts below!
