UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili engaged in a wrestling session with investigative journalist Nick Shirley at the White House ahead of the UFC event on the lawn.
UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili found himself on an unusual stage on June 13, 2026, trading grappling exchanges with investigative journalist Nick Shirley at the White House ahead of a UFC event scheduled to take place on the lawn.
Dvalishvili, known as "The Machine," holds a 21-5-0 professional record and is ranked first in the bantamweight division and second in the pound-for-pound standings. The 35-year-old Georgian, who trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, has built his reputation on relentless wrestling pressure, averaging 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes — a number that makes him one of the most prolific grapplers in the sport. He also adds consistent volume on the feet, landing 4.33 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, Dvalishvili is compact but physically dominant on the mat.
Why it matters
- The setting underscores the growing visibility of the UFC as a mainstream cultural institution, with events now being hosted at landmark venues like the White House.
- Dvalishvili's willingness to showcase his wrestling outside the octagon reinforces the identity that has carried him to the top of the bantamweight division.
- As the number-one ranked bantamweight and second-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, any public moment involving Dvalishvili draws attention to the 135-pound title picture.
The lighthearted session with Shirley offered a rare glimpse of the Georgian fighter in a relaxed setting, a contrast to the grinding, high-output style that has defined his rise through the bantamweight ranks.
