Merab Dvalishvili isn’t just fighting for belts anymore; he’s fighting for two nations. The man they call ‘The Machine’ has become one of the UFC’s most relentless champions, known for his pressure, his pace, and his pride. Yet behind the fighter lies a tale of two flags, two homes, and one dream. At 34, Dvalishvili stands as the UFC Bantamweight Champion, with a 21-4 record and one of the longest active win streaks in the division. He’s beaten elite names like José Aldo, Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, and Henry Cejudo.

And with a potentially historic fourth title defense looming at UFC 323, where he could become the first UFC champion to defend a belt four times in one calendar year, fans aren’t just talking about his fighting anymore. They’re talking about the two flags he raises with pride. And they’re wondering: does MMA’s relentless “Machine” hold dual citizenship, and what do those flags truly mean?

Is Merab Dvalishvili American by nationality?

To answer the dual-citizenship question, we go back to where everything began. Merab Dvalishvili was born on January 10, 1991, in Tbilisi, Georgia. He is a Georgian national but decided to move to the US when he was 21 so that he could train in martial arts with the best trainers. Under the guidance of coaches Ray Longo and Matt Serra, Dvalishvili sharpened his skills and entered the MMA scene.

As for his ethnicity, he belongs to the Caucasian ethnic group native to Georgia and the South Caucasus. He has also spent most of his life as an Eastern Orthodox Christian attending the Georgian Orthodox church. He had started training in the traditional quartile Chidaoba and Khridoli before coming to Combat Sambo and Judo. Born as a Soviet citizen, he later became a Georgian citizen after the USSR disintegrated in his birth year.

After training in the US, he debuted as a mixed martial artist in 2014. Unfortunately, he had lost his debut fight in the Ring of Combat  47. Dvalishvili went on to fight for CFFC and lost his first bout in the promotion. However, he did not stop working hard and finally achieved six consecutive victories in  CES MMA and ROC. Now, as mentioned above, he moved to the US when he was 21. So you must be wondering whether he has US citizenship after so many years.

In 2024, ‘The Machine’ finally became an American citizen as well. After living in the country for almost 12 years, he has acquired American citizenship, as reported by the fighter through his own Instagram. He declared that after dedicating his life to the country, he had the qualifications to become a citizen. The bantamweight noted that his “heart will always be in Georgia,” but he is “grateful” for the opportunities that the United States has given him in his career.

He currently resides in New York and Las Vegas, training with both the Serra Longo Fight Team and Syndicate MMA. After Dvalishvili uploaded this information, even Jorge Masvidal congratulated him for becoming a part of the ‘ best country in the world.’ And that dual identity is exactly why he carries two flags.

Why Dvalishvili carries both the Georgian and American flags

If you’ve ever watched Dvalishvili walk toward the Octagon, you’ve seen it, the red and white of Georgia in one hand, the stars and stripes in the other. But the symbolism runs far deeper than aesthetics.

In an interview with Kevin Iole, the veteran journalist asked him what it meant for him to become a dual citizen of Georgia and America. ‘The Machine’, who started training in combat sports in his motherland and then nourished his skills in America, answered that he was grateful that this country gave him the opportunities that he has now. 

He said, “I’m grateful to be here in the US. This is a beautiful country, a free country. I think I have an example of the American dream. If you come here, you work hard, and if you are a good citizen, and if you do not do any criminal or bad things, then you will become successful.” That’s why, whenever he fights, both flags fly. Not out of indecision, but out of respect for the two places that built him.

The journey from immigrant to UFC champion

Before carrying two flags into sold-out arenas, Dvalishvili carried tools to construction sites. His American story began with long workdays and lonely nights. He trained wherever he could, boxing, kickboxing, and at local dojos, until he finally found a home at Serra-Longo. His pro career started harshly with losses in Ring of Combat and CFFC before he found his momentum. 

By the time he defended his ROC title, he had built a solid 7–2 record, enough to earn a spotlight on Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight. That appearance turned into his breakthrough moment. Paired against rising contender Raufeon Stots on June 2, 2017, Dvalishvili needed only 15 seconds to land a spinning backfist that stunned the MMA world. The knockout didn’t just win him the fight; it secured him a UFC contract on the spot, marking the true beginning of his rise toward championship gold.

Despite losing two fights to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon in his UFC journey, ‘The Machine’ didn’t waver. And the fighter who once struggled to find a gym became the first Georgian-born UFC champion, a pound-for-pound force, and one of the most inspirational success stories in the sport. Today, whether he’s fighting in New York, Las Vegas, or preparing to rematch Petr Yan at UFC 323, one thing is certain: both flags will be in his hands when he walks out. Because Merab Dvalishvili isn’t just a champion in the cage, he’s a symbol of two nations, two histories, and one unstoppable machine!