Merab Dvalishvili extended his UFC winning streak to six fights tonight at UFC On ESPN 23 with a unanimous decision victory over Cody Stamann.
Round One:
Stamann takes the center of the Octagon to start. Kick upstairs from Stamann is blocked. Side kick to the upper body from Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili with a nice flurry of punches. Stamann tries to go down for an early takedown and gets caught again.
Stamann now ends up on his back as Dvalishvili gets him down. Stamann working to get back to his feet and does so, but eats a punch in the process.
Uppercut attempt from Dvalishvili as Stamann swoops for another takedown that he doesn’t land. A brief clinch up against the cage now and then back to the center of the Octagon.
They trade punches and Dvalishvili lands a leg kick. Punch and a fast takedown from Dvalishvili, but Stamann is straight back up to his feet.
Overhand from Dvalishvili and loses his balance as he overcommits to it, but gets back up quickly.
Stamann with a solid jab. Blocked head kick attempted from Dvalishvili. He lands a one-two and then goes for another head kick that doesn’t pay off.
Stamann with a hook. Dvalishvili lands a clean punch. Another connects for him. Jab for him. He lunges into another punch and takedown attempt. he gets Stamann down, but his opponent immediately rolls into a guillotine attempt to end the round.
Round Two:
Body kick for Stamann. Stamann with a left hand and into a takedown attempt, and he lands it. Dvalishvili with a few elbows and hammerfists from his back and then works outright. Stamann kicks to the leg as he stands.
Stamann with a jab and then lands it again. Dvalishvili darts into a punch and then quickly switches for the takedown, working Stamann to the mat while looking for a potential guillotine choke. He quickly gives up on that though and they go back upright.
Body kick for Stamann. Dvalishvili grabs a leg and brings Stamann down. He drops back for a guillotine, but Stamann gets out of that and is now on top.
Dvalishvili back to his feet soon afterwards. Inside leg kick for Dvalishvili. Right hook lands for him. Stamann with a jab.
Dvalishvili tries to get that punch / takedown combo, but this time Stamann avoids it. Another takedown attempt is stopped, but Dvalishvili lands punches instead.
Quick duck into the takedown for Dvalishvili and that one does pay off. Good spot for Dvalishvili, but yet Stamann still manages to get back upright before long.
They get into close quarters and Dvalishvili lands a big judo throw. However, soon after it’s Stamann who gets on top and ends the round there as the fight continues to ebb and flow at a high pace.
Round Three:
Side kick to the body from Dvalishvili. One-two for him and Stamann attempts to return fire. Another flurry for Dvalishvili.
The one-two lands cleanly for Dvalishvili. Head kick attempt is blocked. Spinning head kick from Stamann misses.
Stamann pumping the jab as he presses forward. Another one-two for Dvalishvili. Glancing body kick for Dvalishvili.
Punch into a single leg from Dvalishvili, but Stamann stays upright. Stamann lands a nice strike. Dvalishvili in on another single-leg that’s brushed aside, but he just keeps on working undeterred.
hook for Dvalishvili. Now the jab doing some work for him. Stamann lands a takedown in the center of the Octagon with 90 seconds of the fight remaining.
Stamann with a bit of ground and pound, but he needs to step up a gear as he’s likely to need a finish to win here.
Dvalishvili threatening with a leg lock, and then transitions in an attempt to get the reversal. Stamann counters tough and keeps on top.
Final 10 seconds they go back to the feet, but Dvalishvili battles into the clinch and rides out the remaining seconds.
Decision:
Another energetic performance from Dvalishvili then and his mix of striking and takedowns earns him a solid unanimous decision victory here (30-27, 29-28 x2).
