Video: UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili greeted with parade in home country of Georgia

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili received a hero’s welcome in Georgia.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) outgrappled Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to claim the title earlier this month in the UFC 306 main event at Sphere in Las Vegas. He is on a 11-fight winning streak.

Dvalishvili had an opportunity to fly back home to Georgia, where he was born and raised. Plenty of fans came out to see “The Machine,” swarming him in the streets.

'The Machine' is a superstar! @MerabDvalishvil receiving a hero's welcome in Georgia pic.twitter.com/gRHj6HR6sW

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 30, 2024

Dvalishvili took to Instagram to express his gratitude for the support.

“Thank you my country for such a warm greeting. I’m grateful for everything, Georgia and Georgian people are in my heart .”

With Deiveson Figueiredo booked against Petr Yan in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event Nov. 23 in Macau, Dvalishvili is most likely looking at undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov for his first title defense.