Ever since Georgian MMA fighter Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili altered his combat approach in the early stages of his UFC career, he’s been an unstoppable force on a 10-fight winning streak. The most recent was an encounter with Henry Cejudo, at UFC 298.

Nine of his 10 fights have ended in decision rather than a knockout or submission. Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) points out that this is a conscious strategy on his part, a change in his game plan that came after suffering a technical submission loss to Ricky Simon in his second UFC appearance back in April 2018.

In a conversation on “Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk”, Dvalishvili talked about his second fight, against Ricky Simon. "He was good everywhere, and I was trying to finish him. I was going, and going, and punching him, and then I even dropped him. I tried some submission. Nothing was working, but I was winning the fight," Dvalishvili said.

"It was one minute left and I take him down, I make the decision that I’m going to finish on top. And when I lift and when I jump, I hit my head to the floor. I knocked myself out, and at that time, he grabbed my neck and tried to choke me out on top. I don’t tap. I don’t sleep. I was still fighting, but referee say, ‘Oh, he was in and out (of consciousness).’ They give him technical TKO or something," Dvalishvili explained.

The catalyst for change, he made a decision that would redefine his fighting style UFC career. "After that, I make decision, like, you know what? I’m going to take people down and I’m going to have fun with it. I’m not going to chase the finish, and I’m not going to risk. After that, I became a more smart fighter. Before, I used to be wild. But now, I play with my opponents," Dvalishvili said.

This shift to a more calculated, strategic style has not only minimized risk and enhanced control but also redefined Dvalishvili's career trajectory in the UFC. With his new fight strategy, Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili is proving that he's a smart, adaptive fighter who knows how to play the game.