Veteran MMA commentator Jon Anik has stated unequivocally that, in his view, Merab Dvalishvili has already earned the title of the greatest bantamweight fighter of all time.
Anik shared his perspective with MMA Junkie, asserting that “The Machine” has cemented his legacy, even ahead of his anticipated title rematch against Sean O`Malley at UFC 316. A victory there would extend Dvalishvili`s winning streak to 13 fights and mark his fifth win over a former UFC champion, though Anik feels Dvalishvili`s status is already secure.
Despite his close friendship with Dominick Cruz, a widely recognized candidate for bantamweight GOAT, Anik believes Dvalishvili`s resume from the modern era is unparalleled. He highlighted Dvalishvili`s remarkable 12-fight winning streak that followed two controversial early losses. Anik specifically pointed to Dvalishvili`s victories over a lineup of notable former champions, including Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo, in addition to wins over Sean O`Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov.
Addressing the complexities of the GOAT discussion, particularly when comparing eras, Anik acknowledged Cruz`s impressive statistics, including seven bantamweight title wins across the UFC and WEC. However, Anik admitted a bias towards the current landscape of the sport, arguing that the level of competition and top contenders in 2025 is significantly higher than during much of Cruz`s prime around 2012. Based on this assessment of facing tougher competition in a more evolved sport, Anik concluded that Merab Dvalishvili is, arguably, the greatest bantamweight fighter ever.
