The UFC weigh-in show took an unexpected turn as Daniel Cormier joked about Merab Dvalishvili‘s newly acquired American nationality. Cormier’s insistence that he “doesn’t claim” the champion swiftly turned into a cry of “USA! USA!” when Merab appeared on the show. The sudden flip not only had the panel cracking up but also sent fans online into a frenzy, with Merab himself joining in with a one-word reaction to the situation.

At first, Cormier appeared to be sure of his stance. He told his fellow panelists, “I don’t claim him. The moment Merab comes here with an American accent, then I’ll claim him. If Merab comes up here and sounds Georgian, he’s Georgian. If he looks Georgian and he sounds Georgian, he’s Georgian.”

His deadpan delivery made the jab more convincing, increasing the anticipation of how Dvalishvili might react if he were watching. Then came the twist. When ‘The Machine’ entered the panel, ‘DC’ backtracked in the most animated way possible. He shook Dvalishvili’s hand, smiled, and said, “This is my guy. My American champion Merab! My great champion, Merab Smith.”

To justify the abrupt U-turn, he continued, “If you listen to him more closely, he sounds like he’s from New York. I don’t even hear the Georgian accent.” The fellow panelists ate it up, the audience loved it, and Merab Dvalishvili couldn’t help responding in the most fitting way: with a crying-laughing emoji to the viral video on X.

The lighthearted moment appealed to fans because it contrasted with Merab’s real identity. Born in Vani, Georgia, he has always been proud of his heritage, waving the Georgian flag during UFC bouts despite getting U.S. citizenship back in March 2024 and training in Las Vegas. At 34, he is already one of the most dominant fighters in bantamweight history, with 13 consecutive victories and records in takedowns and total strikes.

The joke about whether he’s “American” or “Georgian” just highlighted the duality of a man who established his career in the United States but never completely abandoned his motherland. That duality will be on full display at UFC 320, when Merab Dvalishvili defends his title against Cory Sandhagen.

A win would mark his third successful defense in a single year, confirming his status as one of the toughest bantamweight champions in history. In fact, it would also prove why he earned the #3 spot in the UFC’s p4p rankings, something that Daniel Cormier highly disagreed with.

Daniel Cormier wants to replace Merab Dvalishvili’s spot with another fighter

Daniel Cormier has taken a firm stance on the pound-for-pound debate. While Merab’s domination in one division has already carved out history, ‘DC’ argued just weeks ago that such a resume is insufficient to validate his #3 ranking. Cormier believes that bridging weight classes is the measure of excellence, and Khamzat Chimaev outshines Merab Dvalishvili in this aspect.

On his show with Chael Sonnen, Cormier laid it all out without hesitation. “He should be No. 3,” he said, citing Chimaev’s consistent success at welterweight and middleweight. The UFC legend presented Chimaev as the blueprint of the fighter whose style transcends divisions, from defeating Kamaru Usman at 170 to winning a title after stepping up.

“Because of those things, I think he falls right in line with Islam and Ilia Topuria, right in front of Merab Dvalishvili.” The issue was not about who worked harder, but about adaptability and showing yourself in more than one lane. However, it’s a mindset that has sparked controversy among supporters since it contradicts what Dvalishvili represents.

The Georgian has never depended on flair or weight-jumping theatrics; his case is based on sheer determination, thirteen consecutive wins, and the ability to break down even the most accomplished opponents with pace. As UFC 320 approaches, the debate hangs in the background: is the true measure of greatness dominance in one place or daring to succeed everywhere?