You won’t believe who’s recording this Las Vegas street fight: UFC bantamweight star Merab Dvalishvili. While a brawl broke out on the streets of Las Vegas, the former UFC bantamweight champion calmly pulled out his phone and filmed the whole thing like a regular tourist. Nicknamed “The Machine,” the 35-year-old Georgian holds a 21-5 mixed martial arts record built on relentless wrestling, record takedown volume and explosive cardio, so the guys fighting probably had no idea who was watching. In 2026 Merab faces Petr Yan in a UFC 333 trilogy in Abu Dhabi, with their rivalry tied 1-1. Seeing one of combat sports’ most ruthless grinders play cameraman for a devastating street fight is peak Merab comedy. #streetfight #fight #reels #funny #merab
Merab Dvalishvili was caught doing what any tourist might do when a brawl erupted on a Las Vegas street: he pulled out his phone and hit record. The Georgian bantamweight, known as "The Machine," filmed the entire scuffle while the people fighting appeared unaware of who was watching.
The clip arrives ahead of a busy stretch for the 35-year-old. Dvalishvili is scheduled to meet Petr Yan for a third time at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, with the rivalry level at one win apiece.
Dvalishvili is 21-5 and ranked number one at bantamweight, with a number two position in the pound-for-pound list. Built on wrestling, he averages 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, and he lands 4.33 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-six with a 68-inch reach, he trains with the Serra-Longo Fight Team. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision loss to Yan at UFC 323 on December 6, 2025, a result that came right after a title defense win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320 in October and a third-round submission of Sean O'Malley at UFC 316 in June.
Yan, 33, is the reigning bantamweight champion with a 20-5 record. The Russian from the Archangel Michael Club stands five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach and fights from a switch stance. He lands 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, well above Dvalishvili's rates, while his 1.58 takedowns per 15 minutes sits far below the Georgian's. Yan has won each of his three most recent recorded fights, all by unanimous decision, including the December win over Dvalishvili.
Why it matters
- The trilogy is tied 1-1: Dvalishvili won the first meeting by unanimous decision on March 11, 2023, and Yan took the rematch the same way on December 6, 2025.
- Both meetings went the full five rounds, and both ended on the judges' scorecards.
- The numbers frame a clear style contrast: Dvalishvili's takedown rate is roughly four times Yan's, while Yan out-lands him by 0.79 significant strikes per minute and by 12 percentage points in accuracy.
- Yan holds the title entering the third fight, while Dvalishvili sits atop the divisional rankings as the top contender.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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