“When I’m hungry and thirsty as I’m running [in order] to sweat, I want to cry, but I smile,” Merab Dvalishvili told Demetrious Johnson on the latter’s podcast a few weeks ago. A mindset like this is why the bantamweight champion is aptly named ‘The Machine.’ And who else would be the most impressed by such a mentality if not Joe Rogan?

‘The Machine’ appeared in the ‘MIGHTYcast’ podcast with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, which premiered on September 30. Three days later, the UFC colour commentator released his JRE MMA Show #170 with Michael ‘Venom’ Page, where Rogan spoke about the Serra-Longo Fight team member, revealing a shocking aspect about the Georgian that defies every belief in the UFC. 

Joe Rogan can’t believe how Merab Dvalishvili cuts weight

Speaking to Page, Joe Rogan highlighted Dvalishvili’s appearance on Johnson’s podcast. “He was on Mighty Mouse’s podcast. No sauna, no cold plunge, no stretching. Doesn’t do any of that. No warm-up. Shows up. ‘I just show up, start to train.’ Just shows up. And f—ing hits the gas. He stays up till 1-2 o’clock in the morning,” Rogan claimed during his podcast. This approach to training shocked Joe Rogan, as he felt it went against what a fighter should do. 

“Just like his whole routine is totally contrary to everything that you’ve heard before,” he added. Rogan was especially amused by how the Georgian approaches weight cut. “This is how he [does] weight cuts. ‘I stop eating.’ He just stops eating. He stops eating on Tuesday. He just stops eating. Stops drinking water. Keeps working out,” Rogan said, as he and Page fell into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, in complete disbelief. 

Despite Dvalishvili’s unique tactics, Rogan highlighted the mental fortitude ‘The Machine’ carries. “The man’s mind is a giant factor that I think a lot of people are looking at as cardio, which is an insane weapon. But the man’s mind, the mental toughness, that is Fort Knox. You ain’t getting in there,” Rogan said during the podcast. And to his credit, a couple of days later, the 34-year-old entered the Octagon and defeated Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision. 

As usual, Merab outpaced and outworked the challenger, almost knocking him out at in round two. This was his third title defense this year, but now, he is looking at a record fourth defense in a calendar year at UFC 323.

Merab Dvalishvili discovers UFC 323 main event news live

‘The Machine’ learned about his next title defense in the most unexpected way—live on air. While appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion was blindsided by the announcement that his rematch with Petr Yan was official for UFC 323 on December 6 in Las Vegas.

“I had no idea,” Dvalishvili told Helwani after a bit of dancing to celebrate. “[UFC] never guarantees you. [They] said [they] will try [their] best and told me that Petr Yan [doesn’t] have his visa.”

This will be historical for Dvalishvili, as it will be his fourth title defense of 2025. Despite being surprised by the announcement, he is ready to head back into camp. 

“Now that I’m champion, I find that I can push the fights and they can keep me busy,” he said. “I just go to Hunter Campbell’s office and say, ‘Hunter, please, I want to fight whoever.’”

Clearly, Merab Dvalishvili is a unique fighter. Not only is he on a 14-fight winning streak, but he is also ready to defend his title for the fourth time in 2025. If he wins, he joins the likes of Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre in GOAT talks. But will he?