If something goes awry ahead of UFC 299, Merab Dvalishvili could get his championship opportunity sooner than expected.
The bantamweight contender’s management announced on Tuesday evening that “The Machine” will serve as the back-up fighter for the bantamweight title headliner between reigning champion Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera. Dvalishvili will weigh in on Friday and be ready to step in if anything happens to either O’Malley or Vera.
Dvalishvili is currently on a 10-fight winning streak in UFC competition, with nine of those victories coming at 135 pounds. He cemented his status as the division’s No. 1 contender in waiting with a three-round verdict over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 on Feb. 17. After the bout, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that the 33-year-old Georgian would be next in line for a bantamweight title shot. Even if all goes as planned this week, Dvalishvili is likely to face the O’Malley-Vera winner at a future event.
UFC 299 takes place on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The main card airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+ beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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