The UFC initially allowed its fighter to display their country’s representation during their bouts. However, they banned the use and display of national flags in April 2022. The UFC denied even bantamweight fighter Merab Dvalishvili from showing off the Georgian flag. But the 32-year-old resorted to a smarter idea.

Merab Dvalishvili boasts an MMA record of 15 wins and 4 losses (8 wins and 2 losses in UFC). he recently had the biggest success of his career so far after defeating UFC legend Jose Aldo via unanimous decision at UFC 278. ‘The Machine’ has now found himself in a pole position for a shot at the bantamweight title.

However, the bantamweight star was disappointed with the UFC; after they denied him the opportunity to show his support for Georgia in his upcoming fight against Petr Yan. He appeared in an interview with ‘MMA Hour’ where he told Ariel Helwani about the situation. “I started this sport because I wanted to represent my country internationally. I made it, but I can’t bring my flag?” said Merab Dvalishvili.

Merab Dvalishvili got the Georgian flag tattooed on his chest; fans react

‘The Machine’ took his love for the country of Georgia to whole another level. He vented out his disappointment with the UFC by getting his home country’s flag tattooed on his chest. The images of his new tattoo have gone viral among UFC fans on social media. Dvalishvili went on to share a picture of his new tattoo on his Instagram story; which was later posted by an Instagram page named, ‘mixedmartialmantis’. The Georgian fighter also posted a picture of his own on his Instagram account.

Many fans reacted to Dvalishvili’s new tattoo and the situation surrounding the UFC not allowing its fighters to display their national flags.

• why wouldn’t he able to? so many other fighters fly theirs
• Love the tattoo
• Bro just beat the system
• Merab georgian warrior
• Tatooo
• Love the tattoo Merab!
• russia and georgia had their most recent war in 2008… I guess they don’t want to pull politics into the fight

Many fans reacted to the tattoo and commended Dvalishvili for inking his national flag on his chest. One fan even claimed that the Georgian fighter beat the UFC’s system with his tattoo. Moreover, one fan speculated that the UFC didn’t want to bring politics into the sport since Georgia has been in conflict with Russia.

READ MORE: “They Are Attacking Me”: UFC President Dana White Opens Up on Huge Backlash in Past Months

Dvalishvili’s win against Jose Aldo has propelled him to the upper echelons of the bantamweight division. His next fight with Yan will decide his UFC trajectory. However, he has maintained that he does not want to fight Aljamain Sterling for the title since they’re friends and train together. We’ll have to wait and see what follows.

WATCH THIS STORY: Khabib Nurmagomedov Thug Life Moments