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Combat Sports

Merab Dvalishvili Suffers Nose Injury But Remains Committed to Competing

Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) during the fight against Petr Yan.
Dec 6, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) during the fight against Petr Yan (blue gloves) during UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Merab Dvalishvili is recognized as one of the toughest fighters in the bantamweight division. He is now facing a significant problem while conducting his regular training at his camp. He explained that his already damaged nose was further aggravated after he was accidentally kneed in the face during a sparring session.

Merab Dvalishvili’s nose has been messed up for over 10 years because of all the damage it got from fighting and training. Even though he was hurt, it never stopped him from doing his job in the cage.

Details Of the Injury

Following the incident, Merab Dvalishvili shared that the strike caused additional structural damage to his nose, leaving it more crooked than before and affecting his ability to breathe properly. He said it happened when he was training, but it was just a bad accident. 

Merab Dvalishvili said he knew something was wrong because it was hard to breathe out of one side. He thinks the UFC will help him get the care he needs, even though he does not have a fight coming up.

Medical Advice and Recovery Timeline

After undergoing a medical examination, Merab Dvalishvili found out that his nose was broken in two places. The doctor told him that to cure it, they would have to do a surgery where they would have to reset his nose and break other bones to restore proper alignment. The doctor said it would take a year for Merab Dvalishvili to get better after the surgery. For a 35-year-old athlete still actively competing at a high level, this timeline presents a major challenge.

Merab Dvalishvili said that he does not want to take all that time off. He is going to put off having surgery until after he stops fighting. He made it clear that he is not thinking about retiring, and he wants to keep competing even though he is hurt.

Commitment To Upcoming Competition

Even though he got hurt, Dvalishvili is still determined to keep competing. He said he will still wrestle against Henry Cejudo at a RAF event on April 18. This shows that Dvalishvili is a guy who can handle hard situations. He is known for being able to go fast and not get tired easily, and he has always been able to perform well even when he is not in good condition.

Potential Impact On Performance

Merab Dvalishvili is usually good at taking punches and continuing. This new injury might cause him some problems, though. If he is unable to breathe properly through one side of his nose, it could impact his endurance, which is a key factor in his effectiveness as a fighter.

This is especially important when you think about who he might fight, like maybe Petr Yan. When they fought before, it was clear that being in shape and able to take a punch was really important, and if Dvalishvili is not breathing well, it could change how the fight goes. Other fighters, such as Dricus du Plessis, have also demonstrated how crucial proper breathing is to maintaining performance over the course of a fight.

What’s Next For Him

Merab Dvalishvili is not going to let his injury stop him from competing. He knows it is bad, but he is going to try to make it work and keep fighting. He seems to be thinking practically. His remarks reflect a practical mindset, as he is choosing to manage the current limitations while planning to address the issue once his fighting career is over.