A new contender has emerged in the bantamweight division at UFC 278, and his name is Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian made a statement with a unanimous decision win over José Aldo on the main card from Salt Lake City on Saturday.
Dvalishvili has been quickly rising up the rankings as he continues to pile up the wins. Though Dvalishvili's level of competition has continued to get tougher, Aldo is his most notable win to date.
The 31-year-old has also bested Marlon Moraes, Cody Stamann and John Dodson.
A win over Aldo—who is a surefire Hall of Famer and former featherweight champion—only serves to cement Dvalishvili's status as a top-five fighter in the weight class.