Merab Dvalishvili is poised to make history later this year, having secured his wish for an unprecedented fourth title defense.
UFC President Dana White recently confirmed Dvalishvili will headline UFC 323, defending his bantamweight belt in a rematch against former opponent Petr Yan.
This highly anticipated bout presents “The Machine” with the opportunity to become the first fighter in UFC history to achieve four successful title defenses within a single calendar year.
Dvalishvili’s visible excitement upon hearing the news underscored the profound importance of this additional fight in 2025 for the Georgian champion.
However, while Merab`s achievement would be historic for a calendar year, a legendary UFC figure actually recorded four title defenses in an even shorter overall timeframe than the “cardio monster.”
Tito Ortiz Achieved Four Light Heavyweight Title Defenses in Just 10 Months
With a potential fourth victory in 2025, Merab Dvalishvili is a strong contender for the “Fighter of the Year” award.
Dvalishvili’s dominant performance against Petr Yan in their 2023 encounter sets high expectations for another impressive showing from “The Machine” at the Las Vegas event.
Regardless of the outcome, the bantamweight champion will not claim the record for the fastest four title defenses overall.
Although he will be the first to achieve four defenses in a single calendar year, the record for the shortest period to achieve four defenses belongs to another.
That distinction belongs to Tito Ortiz, whose light heavyweight title reign saw him set the record for the most consecutive belt defenses.
After winning the vacant belt against Wanderlei Silva, Ortiz defended his title four times in a remarkable 10-month period, stretching from December 16, 2000, to September 28, 2001.
Ortiz secured significant victories during this intense period of activity before his fifth defense occurred over a year later.
| Opponent | Date and Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Yuki Kondo | UFC 29 – December 16, 2000 | Ortiz via submission (neck crank) – round 1 |
| Evan Tanner | UFC 30 – February 23, 2001 | Ortiz via KO (slam) – round 1 |
| Elvis Sinosic | UFC 32 – June 29, 2001 | Ortiz via TKO – round 1 |
| Vladimir Matyushenko | UFC 33 – September 28, 2001 | Ortiz via unanimous decision |
UFC 323 Co-Main Event Features Another Dominant Champion
While Merab Dvalishvili seeks to make history at UFC 323, he isn`t the only dominant champion featured on the December 6 card.
Dvalishvili and Alexandre Pantoja currently hold the most title defenses among the active champions in the UFC roster.
Pantoja is set to defend his belt for the fifth time against Joshua Van, who also has the chance to etch his name into the record books later this year.
Should the 24-year-old Van succeed in dethroning the Brazilian titleholder, he would become the second-youngest champion in UFC history, only behind Jon Jones.
