Merab Dvalishvili has built his name, ‘The Machine’, with relentless pressure and endurance inside the Octagon. Outside of it, he’s one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport, known for his humility and ability to make fans laugh. But somewhere between 2023 – 2024, Dvalishvili surprised everyone, not with a knockout, but with a new look. The UFC bantamweight champion, who once wore his receding hairline with pride, revealed he had undergone a hair transplant!

The internet, as expected, went wild. But for a man who’s fought through hand injuries, surgeries, and 13 straight wins inside the Octagon, this was one battle fans didn’t see coming. Now, as Dvalishvili prepares for his third title defense at UFC 320, fans are still talking about the transformation. So, when did it happen? And why did it shock so many?

When did Merab Dvalishvili get a hair transplant?

Merab Dvalishvili shared a couple of posts from Turkiye, one in March 2023 and the other the other one in February 2024. It is believed that during that period, the bantamweight star got his hair worked out at the Now Hair Time clinic located in Istanbul. Dvalishvili’s hairline started receding at a pretty young age, but when he showcased the result on his social media handles, it looked like it was worth it.

The country of Istanbul is often referred to as the global capital for hair transplants. Not just UFC fighters like Merab Dvalishvili, but celebrities from other walks of life, like the showbiz or movie industry, have also traveled to Turkiye. But at the top sits Now Hair Time, who has showcased the range of clients they have on their social media handles.

While it was great to have a full set of hair back for Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC champion doesn’t think it was necessary for the Georgian to do so. If you’re wondering who that former champion is, well, it’s none other than the ever-vocal Sean Strickland.

Merab Dvalishvili’s hair transplant draws a shocking reaction

Sean Strickland is as raw as it gets, and we get to experience it every time he gets a microphone or when he goes on social media. A few months ago, a fan asked ‘Tarzan’ about his thoughts on Merab Dvalishvili’s hair transplant, to which he had an unexpected reaction. Strickland doesn’t like hair transplants and has called for people to avoid it. Instead, he suggests that bald men could choose to compensate for their hair loss with a nice beard.

“Wtf is going on with these hair transplants…. STOP… Grow a beard, lift some weights, find Jesus… IDK but that ain’t the way,” Sean Strickland tweeted. 

And while his words stirred debate online, Dvalishvili didn’t bite back. True to his calm and playful nature, he carried on posting his training clips and lighthearted skits, barely acknowledging the noise. 

After all, fans who’ve followed Merab Dvalishvili know that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Whether he’s joking around with teammates like Aljamain Sterling or pulling off viral pranks, The Machine always finds balance between work and play. 

The hair transplant, in that sense, wasn’t a sign of insecurity; it was just another way of reinventing himself, the same way he’s reinvented his career.

Yet, it’s easy to forget that beneath the memes and social media buzz stands one of the UFC’s most dominant champions. Dvalishvili’s work ethic borders on obsessive, endless cardio, relentless scrambles, and non-stop pressure. That’s part of who he is, a man who laughs at himself but never loses sight of the bigger picture. And that picture, right now, is UFC 320.