UFC Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has had a meteorical rise in the pound-for-pound rankings and can cement his inheritance as the Bantamweight goat.
According to his head coach John Wood, Dvalishhvili is about to end the debate.
In an exclusive conversation with Sports Boom, Wood shared his view of Dvalishvili’s impressive CV at Bantamweight, his upcoming title defense against Cory Sandhagen on UFC 320 and his first impressions of the Georgian.
Wood also sheds light on the training camp of Dvalishvili and emphasizes an important area in which he is head and shoulders above the rest.
‘[Dvalishvili] Has the best resume against the toughest hunters, “Wood told Sportsboom.com.
‘If everything [his] Fights were all title defenses, we don’t even have the questions, as if it were even a debate. “
Dvalishvili has proven itself time and time again with victories over some of the biggest names in the division, including Jose Aldo, Umar Nurmagomedov, Henry Cejudo and Sean O’Malley. He plans to add Sandhagen to the list on UFC 320.
“I think he has to defend that belt a few more times and then we are not even talking about Bantamweight Goat, we are talking about it now when he is there on the Mount Rushmore of MMA hunters? And that will take some time,” Wood added.
“I think the Bantamweight goat is very feasible if it has not happened yet.”
Dvalishvilis unparalleled cardio
One of the strongest characteristics of Dvalishvili is his unparalleled cardio, a factor that enables him to maintain an overwhelming pace for five full rounds.
Wood gave a look at what makes the training of the bantam weight champion so unique and emphasized the ruthless effort he puts in every session.
“Everyone just leaves the gym,” like, how? ‘Because of the work production.
“This game is evolving, so the things he now does with the new weapons and the things he has added, it just makes it 10 times worse.”
The conditioning and wrestling of Dvalishvili have made him a difficult hunter to prepare, because he is able to tire his opponents and then impose his will as soon as they are exhausted. Wood explained that the training sessions of the machine are so intense, they often require several sparring partners.
“We must have at least three or four partners because boys go out, boys are broken and submitted,” he added.
“It surprises me every day and especially at the level of competition with which he competes in the gym.”
“It’s just amazing to see this man working.”
First impressions of Dvalishvili
When Wood met Dvalishvili for the first time, he wasn’t sure what he could expect. He admitted that he initially thought that training the Georgian would be a challenge and did not believe that their personalities would assume.
“In the beginning I really didn’t think we would come to him. And I have never been so wrong about anything in my life, and glad I am because it has become a great friendship and coaching relationship,” Wood said.
The bond between them has since evolved into a close friendship and Wood revealed that the ability of Dvalishvili to keep information so quickly played a role in his success in MMA.
“He only has to see things once or twice before he does it perfectly,” he said.
“Once I got out how [Dvalishvili] Learn and how you can coach him, man, we clicked. It was something that I had never guessed that would have been worked out as it is, “Wood concluded.
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