Merab Dvalishvili just made history, but not without controversy. During the UFC Nashville broadcast, it was announced that ‘The Machine’ had been named the 2025 ESPY Fighter of the Year. ESPN’s official ceremony is still a few days away, but fans couldn’t wait to share their thoughts.

The bantamweight champ now holds a prestigious title outside the Octagon, adding to what’s already been a monster year. He’s gone 3–0 in championship bouts within the eligible timeframe, snatching the belt from Sean O’Malley in September at UFC 306, grinding through Umar Nurmagomedov in a unanimous decision at UFC 311, and finishing O’Malley in their UFC 316 rematch. His record speaks volumes, but not everyone is convinced he should have taken home the award.

In fact, Dvalishvili wasn’t the only big name in the running. Islam Makhachev, Kayla Harrison, and Dricus Du Plessis were also nominated. Makhachev had wins over Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano before vacating the lightweight strap. Harrison captured the women’s bantamweight title in dominant fashion. Du Plessis turned back both  Israel Adesanya and  Sean Strickland. Yet, none of them matched Dvalishvili’s sheer volume of elite wins.

So why the backlash? Simple. One name, Ilia Topuria. Despite winning back-to-back titles and finishing three top-ranked opponents, Topuria wasn’t even nominated. Why? His lightweight title win came just one week past the ESPY deadline of June 20, 2025.

The UFC commentary even addressed it during the broadcast, noting the cut-off as the reason. Still, it didn’t stop the fanbase from voicing their frustration as we take a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fans in an uproar as Merab Dvalishvili edges out Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria for ‘Fighter of the Year’

One fan wrote, “Literally how is Topuria not? He has won 2 titles and knocked out 3 of the best of all time IN A ROW!” This reaction echoed loudly across social media. Ilia Topuria has been on a tear, finishing legends and capturing titles in back-to-back weight classes. For his supporters, his omission wasn’t just an oversight; it felt like a snub to one of the most electrifying runs in recent UFC history.

Another fan said, “Finally getting the recognition he deserves, good for him.” Not everyone was upset. Some fans recognized that Merab Dvalishvili’s consistency, grit, and volume of title defenses made him a worthy winner. After years of flying under the radar and doing the dirty work at bantamweight, this felt like a long-overdue payoff for a man who’s currently on an undefeated streak stretching all the way back to 2018!

A frustrated viewer posted, “Islam robbed.” Supporters of Makhachev pointed to his dominant title defenses and his elite skill set, believing his calm dismantling of top contenders like Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano deserved greater recognition. Even with fewer fights, they argued, his resume remained championship-level. What do you think?

One reaction read, “Interesting to hand this out in July but he has been the fighter of the year so far.” This comment tapped into the timing of the award, which confused many. Though the ESPYs traditionally follow a midyear cutoff, some fans weren’t aware of that and felt it unfair to judge a full year’s work before the calendar even flipped.

And finally, someone bluntly wrote, “Should be Ilia Topuria.” Even with clarification from the UFC that Topuria’s lightweight title win fell just outside the eligibility window, fans didn’t care. In their eyes, ‘El Matador’ had delivered the performances that defined the year.

To wrap things up, the fanbase is clearly split. For some, Dvalishvili’s unmatched activity and relentless style made him a no-brainer. For others, the absence of Topuria or the slight to Makhachev was impossible to ignore. Do you think ‘The Machine’ deserved the honor? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!