Jose Aldo vs Merab Dvalishvili — Fight recap

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Jose Aldo by unanimous decision over three rounds on August 20, 2022, with referee Jason Herzog officiating. Despite landing 38 significant strikes at 56% accuracy compared to Dvalishvili's 57 at 38%, Aldo couldn't overcome the Georgian's relentless pressure and control.

Dvalishvili accumulated 5:06 of control time while attempting 16 takedowns, though none connected; Aldo mounted no offensive grappling and spent no time in control. The striking volume told a different story—Dvalishvili threw 147 significant strikes to Aldo's 67, with leg strikes proving particularly effective for the challenger (27 of 31 landed).

Aldo's precision on body strikes (21 of 25) couldn't compensate for being outworked and controlled throughout. The loss marked a significant moment for the former featherweight champion at bantamweight, signaling Dvalishvili's ascent in the division's rankings.