Merab Dvalishvili Refuses Nose Surgery Despite Injury: "I Can't Even Breathe"

Merab Dvalishvili, widely known as "The Machine," recently sustained a severe nose injury during his training regimen. Despite the significant damage and difficulty breathing, the resilient fighter has declared that this physical setback will not prevent him from competing later this year.

Dvalishvili is extensively expected to face Petr Yan, the reigning and two-time bantamweight champion, in a highly anticipated rematch. The UFC had previously assured Dvalishvili an immediate opportunity to reclaim the title following his loss to Yan at UFC 323 last year.

The perpetually active Georgian athlete demonstrated remarkable consistency by successfully defending his 135-pound championship three times throughout 2025. In an ambitious attempt to achieve a record-breaking fourth title defense within a single calendar year, "The Machine" engaged Yan in a rematch at UFC 323, ultimately losing the grueling five-round contest via unanimous decision.

Following a period of necessary recuperation and rest, Merab Dvalishvili is slated to return to the octagon in the second or third quarter of the current year. His primary objective remains to confront Yan once more and definitively resolve their trilogy, which currently stands with one victory apiece. It's worth noting that Yan underwent lower back surgery a few months ago but has already resumed his rigorous training regimen.

In a recent update shared with his fans, Dvalishvili revealed that his nose has been fractured yet again, this time sustained from a knee strike during a sparring session. His medical doctor informed him that a complete reconstruction would be necessary to properly realign his nose, a complex medical procedure that would unfortunately keep him out of action for a full year.

Merab Dvalishvili Postpones Nose Reconstruction Until Retirement

Merab Dvalishvili firmly intends to postpone any corrective surgery for his severely damaged nose until after his professional fighting career concludes. Despite experiencing considerable difficulty breathing through one nostril, he is committed to avoiding any surgical intervention that would disrupt his UFC schedule for the current year. In a recent video posted on social media, he openly shared his perspective:

“My nose is completely messed up. It’s even worse and more fractured in the same direction. The bones inside are broken, and I can’t even breathe through one side… My nose is broken in two places. The doctor told me that to make it straight and fix it properly, they would have to re-break other bones, and it would take another year to heal. Naturally, I don’t want to do that right now. Alternatively, he said I could leave it as is and undergo surgery after I retire. I told him I’m not planning to retire for the next 20 years… I’ll simply deal with it for now.”