UFC Bantamweight Rankings Updated With Merab Dvalishvili at Number One

Merab Dvalishvili sits atop the latest UFC bantamweight rankings, according to an updated set of divisional standings released this week.

Dvalishvili, nicknamed "The Machine," holds the number one spot at 135 pounds with a record of 21-5-0. He also ranks second in the pound-for-pound standings. The 35-year-old Georgian trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team and fights out of an orthodox stance.

His numbers explain the placement. Dvalishvili averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, a rate that defines his approach. He pairs that grappling pressure with steady output on the feet, landing 4.33 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. He also attempts 0.3 submissions per 15 minutes, using wrestling primarily to control and grind opponents rather than hunt finishes.

Physically, he is compact for the division. He stands five-foot-six (168 cm) with a 68-inch (173 cm) reach, giving up length to many rivals and relying on relentless pace and forward pressure to close distance.

Why it matters

• Being ranked first in the division places Dvalishvili at the head of the bantamweight pecking order, the position from which the sport's title picture is typically read.
• His second-place pound-for-pound ranking puts him among the very top fighters in the sport, regardless of weight class.
• His wrestling-heavy style, built on high-volume takedowns, remains the central benchmark that other bantamweights are measured against.

Rankings updates of this kind tend to draw plenty of debate among fans, and this one is no exception, with Dvalishvili's placement at the top of the division prompting discussion over how the rest of the order should look.