If you’ve ever watched Merab "The Machine" Dvalishvili sprint across the Octagon like he’s powered by a Tesla battery that never hits zero, you’ve probably asked yourself: how tall is Merab anyway? Standing next to some of the lankier guys in the 135-pound division, he often looks like the smaller man. But as any MMA fan knows, looking small and being small are two very different things when the cage door locks.
Honestly, the "official" numbers only tell half the story.
The Tale of the Tape
The record books are pretty clear on this one. According to the UFC and most official athletic commission data, Merab Dvalishvili is 5 feet 6 inches tall (or roughly 168 cm). He’s got a 68-inch reach. For a bantamweight, that’s actually pretty standard. You aren't looking at a giant, but he isn't a "short" bantamweight either—he’s right in the middle of the pack.
Compare him to someone like Sean O’Malley, who towers over the division at 5'11". When Merab fought O'Malley (twice now, including that wild 2025 rematch), the height difference was a massive five inches. Five inches is a lifetime in a sport where distance management is everything. Yet, Merab has this weird way of making tall guys look like they’re fighting uphill.
✨ Don't miss: Edmond Santa Fe Football: Why the Wolves are Always in the Mix
It’s kinda funny. You see him standing next to his best friend Aljamain Sterling, who is listed at 5'7", and Merab looks maybe a tiny bit shorter, or exactly the same. It depends on the shoes, really.
Why Merab's Height Doesn't Actually Matter
In wrestling and sambo—Merab's bread and butter—being a little shorter can actually be a "cheat code." Think about it. His center of gravity is naturally lower. When he shoots for those double-legs that he's famous for (he holds the record for over 100 takedowns in the UFC now), he doesn't have as far to drop.
He’s basically a compact ball of muscle.
By the time his opponent realizes he’s diving for the hips, he’s already underneath their center of gravity. Being 5'6" allows him to get "in the kitchen" of taller fighters. If you’re a long, rangy striker like Cory Sandhagen, having a 5'6" powerhouse glued to your waist for 25 minutes is a literal nightmare.
The Weight vs. Height Illusion
One thing people get wrong about how tall is Merab is confusing his height with his size. Merab is "thick" for a bantamweight. While he’s 5'6", he walks around much heavier. In his fight against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, reports showed him stepping into the cage at nearly 157 pounds.
💡 You might also like: Deion Sanders Topps Rookie Card: What Most People Get Wrong
That’s over 20 pounds of rehydration.
When you pack that much muscle onto a 5'6" frame, you aren't just a "small guy." You’re a wrecking ball. He’s got these short, powerful levers that make it almost impossible to shake him off once he gets a grip. It’s why he can out-wrestle guys who are technically "bigger" or taller than him.
Reach: The Secret Weapon
While we're talking about height, we have to talk about his 68-inch reach. It’s actually quite long for someone who is 5'6". Usually, a person's reach (wingspan) is roughly equal to their height. Merab has a positive "ape index," meaning his arms are longer than he is tall.
- Height: 66 inches (5'6")
- Reach: 68 inches
- The Math: That’s a +2 inch advantage.
That extra reach is why his jab is surprisingly effective. He isn't just a wrestler; he uses those slightly longer-than-expected arms to pop people from a distance before closing the gap. It's subtle, but it's part of why he's so hard to hit cleanly. He stays just far enough away that you have to reach for him, and that's when he ducks under for the takedown.
Merab Height Comparisons
To give you a better idea of where he sits in the UFC ecosystem, check out these comparisons:
- Sean O'Malley: 5'11" (5 inches taller than Merab)
- Petr Yan: 5'7" (1 inch taller than Merab)
- Henry Cejudo: 5'4" (2 inches shorter than Merab)
- Umar Nurmagomedov: 5'8" (2 inches taller than Merab)
If you look at his 2025 run, he’s basically spent the year dismantling guys who are taller than him. The height disparity between him and O’Malley at UFC 316 was the most visually striking, but Merab’s cardio and pressure neutralized that height advantage within the first three minutes.
What You Can Learn from The Machine
If you're a smaller athlete or just someone looking to improve your grappling, Merab is the ultimate blueprint. He proves that being the "shorter" person doesn't mean you have a disadvantage.
First, focus on your center of gravity. Use your height to get under the "tall guy" frames. Second, prioritize "chain wrestling." Merab doesn't just stop if one takedown fails; he uses his compact frame to transition from one move to the next. Third, don't ignore the reach. Even if you're shorter, knowing your exact range (like Merab's 68 inches) allows you to play the "outside game" just enough to set up your entries.
✨ Don't miss: Superfecta Payout Kentucky Derby: Why Most Bettors Actually Lose (and How to Change That)
Basically, stop worrying about the tape measure. Merab is 5'6", but inside the cage, he feels like he’s 7 feet tall and made of stone. If you want to dive deeper into his training, looking up the Serra-Longo "takedown chain" drills is a great place to start.