At MMA Fighting’s mid‑season awards, Merab Dvalishvili was voted Best Fighter of 2025 after two dominant title defenses—against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and Sean O’Malley at UFC 316—where he delivered a submission victory. His relentless performance and undefeated streak propelled him to the top of the panel rankings.

He also earned the prestigious 2025 ESPY Award for Fighter of the Year, reflecting a period of incredible consistency—three elite title victories from July 1, 2024, to June 20, 2025—and surpassing fellow nominees like Islam Makhachev and Kayla Harrison.

Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight UFC title twice in 2025, including a submission of O’Malley in June and dominating Nurmagomedov in January.

Tied with some of UFC’s all‑time greats for the longest win streak (13 straight wins), and recognized by fans and experts as arguably the greatest bantamweight of all time.