Jon Anik has seen enough: Merab Dvalishvili is already the bantamweight GOAT.
This Saturday, Dvalishvili defends his title in a rematch with Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 316. It’s Dvalishvili’s second title defense, and if he wins, his 13th consecutive win. It would also be Dvalishvili’s fifth win over a former UFC champion, but even if O’Malley gets his revenge on Saturday, Anik believes “The Machine” has already cemented legacy.
“I do believe he already has status as the greatest bantamweight of all time,” Anik told MMA Junkie. “I say that as a man who if I got married this weekend, Dominick Cruz would be a groomsman; he’s one of my best friends in the world. But when I look at the body of work of Merab Dvalishvili, in the modern era, he could be 14-0 in the UFC. He lost to Frankie Saenz and then a contentious ending against Ricky Simon. With respect to those two guys, it’s been 12 straight wins ever since.
“He left a murderer’s row of champions in his wake before he even fought for the title. He beat Henry Cejudo, beat Petr Yan, beat Jose Aldo, then he beat Sean O’Malley, and defends the title on the challenger’s timeline in beating Umar Nurmagomedov. Now the rematch with Sean O’Malley? As far as I’m concerned, with respect to Aljamain Sterling and my BFF Dominick Cruz, the greatest of all time, not so quietly, is Merab ‘The Machine’ Dvalishvili.”
The GOAT conversation at bantamweight has always been a tricky one, because though Cruz has five title defenses, his career was also ravaged by injuries, forcing him out for long stretches of his prime. Even still, if you look at the numbers, they clearly favor Cruz, who won seven bantamweight title fights across UFC and WEC, but for Anik, it’s a question of competition. And while Cruz has wins over former champions like Urijah Faber, T.J. Dillashaw, and Demetrious Johnson, Anik still sides with Dvalishvili.
“I am biased to the modern era,” Anik admitted. “I didn’t call a lot of Dominick Cruz’s prime, but the game has evolved. No. 1 contender types in 2025 are much better than they were in 2012, so for me, Merab’s the guy.”
TOP STORIES
Whoa. The UFC Vegas 107 main event was called off at the last second due to Maycee Barber being unable to make the walk out for fight with Erin Blanchfield.
Sad. MMA legend B.J. Penn was arrested for the third time in a week.
Move. Noche UFC 3 has moved from Guadalajara, Mexico, to San Antonio, and is now a Fight Night event, not UFC 320.
Busy. Arman Tsarukyan choked out Patricky Pitbull in a grappling match, his first competition since an injury cost him a title opportunity at UFC 311 in January.
Missed Fists. Yup, a dude knocked out another dude in TWO SECONDS with a spin kick.
VIDEO STEW
UFC Vegas 107 post-fight show (and it was a doozy!).
UFC Vegas 107 post-fight press conference.
UFC 316 Countdown.
Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya.
Jake Paul saying stuff.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
On to the Next One. Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee make their matchup picks for the winners of a snakebitten UFC Vegas 107 card.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Jon Jones continues to troll.
Eep.
Love it.
This whole broadcast was chaos.
Yeah, wtf?
Blanchfield vs. Jasudavicius then?
Chito ran a half with Travis Barker.
Whoaaaa. Far out.
What if I’m A.i?
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) June 1, 2025
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Khaos Williams (15-4) vs. Andreas Gustafsson (11-2); UFC 316, June 7
Stephen Thompson (17-8-1) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (17-1-0); UFC Nashville, July 12
FINAL THOUGHTS
There’s nothing Jon Anik likes more than completely disregarding the career of a fighter who racked up an incredible résumé before he started commentating. Man buried Jose Aldo years ago and now he’s doing it to Dominick Cruz. And I don’t even like Cruz! But come one, man. If the litmus test is “the new era is better so he’s better” than the GOAT is whoever the current champion is because that’s how the sport works. It always improves. — Meshew
EXIT POLL
Poll
Who is the bantamweight GOAT?
This poll is closed
53%
Dominick Cruz
(117 votes)
33%
Merab Dvalishvili
(73 votes)
13%
219 votes total
Vote Now
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