Dvalishvili wasn’t sure that he would be able to fight during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the UFC called and he was able to earn a victory in a short a notice fight against Gustavo Lopez at the UFC Apex in June. Dvalishvili’s desire to compete couldn’t keep him away for long, and just eight weeks later, he hopes he will be able to secure the biggest win of his career.
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“I was hoping that they needed me, and I kept telling my team that I would fight at bantamweight, featherweight or lightweight. I’m always ready to go in the Octagon,” Dvalishvili said. “This fight with Dodson is a true challenge for me and if I want respect and I want to move forward in the rankings, I have to beat this type of true mixed martial artist.”
With training partners like Aljamain Sterling, Matt Frevola and Al Iaquinta, Dvalishvili has been able to consistently show his growth since joining the UFC. His rise has largely been in part to the work put in with those standouts and the grueling hours at Serra-Longo out in New York.
The support that Dvalishvili receives from his teammates blows him away and has helped motivate him to train harder than ever.