Merab Dvalishvili steps up training as huge Petr Yan clash edges near

Merab Dvalishvili recently released a montage of pictures showcasing the work he has been putting in with his huge bantamweight clash against Petr Yan approaching.

The Georgian has put together a great run of wins inside the octagon and is seemingly leaving the two losses he endured in his first outings with the promotion in the past. Debuting back in 2017, the grappler had a hard time finding his feet in the cage, losing to both Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon.

After reinventing himself, Merab Dvalishvili went on a tear and has been undefeated ever since. With arguably the toughest fight of his career now approaching, the 32-year-old has been stepping up his training and has shared some moments with his fans.

Merab puts himself in pole position to fight for the bantamweight crown if he manages to bypass the threat posed by his Russian opponent next time out. But that may all depend on whether Aljamain Sterling remains atop the division.

The two are close friends and training partners, meaning they will likely not want to face one another no matter what's at stake. 'Aljo' previously claimed that he would move up to featherweight, allowing his fellow 135er to "make history" when he is eventually given a shot at gold.

For Dvalishvili to have any chance at earning that opportunity, he will need to weather the storm against a dangerous Petr Yan. The pair will meet on March 11 when they headline a UFC Fight Night card held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Merab Dvalishvili's eight-fight win streak in the UFC

Following his rocky start, Merab Dvalishvili has managed to beat eight straight opponents on his way to a #3 ranking in the bantamweight division.

Wins over Terrion Ware, Brad Katona, Casey Kenney, and Gustavo Lopez earned him some significant matchups in the octagon. After scoring back-to-back decision victories over John Dodson and Cody Stamann, 'The Machine' found his first finish under the UFC banner, fighting back to earn a TKO stoppage over Marlon Moraes.

Most recently, Dvalishvili stepped into the cage to face his biggest and most dangerous opponent to date, Jose Aldo. He passed the test with flying colors, beating the Brazilian and forcing the legend into retirement.