Ex-champ claims Merab Dvalishvili is UFC bantamweight ‘GOAT’ even if he fails to tie his record

Aljamain Sterling says Merab Dvalishvili is already the greatest bantamweight of all time

Win, lose, or draw at UFC 320, Aljamain Sterling says his teammate Dvalishvili is the greatest to ever do it at 135 lbs.

Sterling is up there with Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw in the bantamweight ‘GOAT’ conversation.

Sterling holds on to the record for the most successful UFC title defenses at bantamweight (3), which Dvalishvili could tie with a win over Sandhagen.

“Regardless if Merab wins this fight or not, I think he’s the greatest bantamweight of all time,” Sterling said of Dvalishvili on his YouTube channel.

“I might have the most title defenses in the UFC, but he’s on a 13 fight win streak. He’s beaten five former champions, even if one of them was a repeat. Got a finish in his last fight.

“I don’t think anyone has had a run the way he has.

“Yeah, there’s Dominick Cruz. There’s the run I had, there’s the run TJ had…

“I just don’t think there’s anyone who’s done it the way that he’s done it in the UFC,” Sterling continued.

“Regardless if he gets a third title defense in a row or not, I think he is [the bantamweight GOAT] and I think this win this weekend solidifies it,” said Sterling.

Merab Dvalishvili has nine wins over eight world champions

Dvalishvili keeps adding names to his legendary resume.

As far as UFC champions go, Dvalishvili has defeated the likes of Sean O’Malley (twice), Petr Yan, Jose Aldo, as well as former two-division champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo.

That’s not all the world champions ‘The Machine’ has faced in his career.

Dvalishvili has wins over current BKFC flyweight champion John Dodson, former WSOF champion Marlon Moraes, former Bellator interim champion Raufeon Stots and former BRAVE CF champion Brad Katona, who’s the only fighter to win ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ twice.