Who thought one of the UFC’s toughest bantamweights could be dragged into one of combat sports’ most controversial formats—and come out smiling? As the countdown to UFC 316 continues and Merab Dvalishvili prepares for his fight against Sean O’Malley, the Georgian grappler takes a fun detour. It was not in a cage, a gymnasium, or a news conference. No, it was at a Power Slap event when the reigning champion encountered an unexpected challenge—not from another fighter, but from Nina Marie Danielle, aka Nina Dram, and a fan-favorite slap queen, Paige VanZant.
The tension in Newark is rising, particularly when Dvalishvili shared a video of a horrific cut under his left eye just weeks before his title defense. The UFC’s brass, notably Dana White, were not thrilled. But that didn’t stop Merab Dvalishvili from attending the Power Slap event, where influencer Nina Marie Danielle got him talking about slaps of a different type.
And not just any smack; one from Paige VanZant herself. “Would you take a slap from Paige?” Nina asked, with all the mischief the scenario deserved. ‘The Machine,’ ever the showman, had an answer prepared, which he spat out without hesitation. “Of course,” he replied, “I was doing an interview with a girl yesterday, and she asked me about Power Slap.” I said, ‘Please slap me’.” It was classic Merab Dvalishvili—unfiltered, unpretentious, and completely in the moment.
The event surely caught his attention, as he also wondered why women would even participate in this brutal sport. “These beautiful girls, they slap each other, and they get busted out,” Dvalishvili said, clearly amused by the chaos that is Power Slap. When Nina Drama told him it was clear love for the sport, the Georgian wholeheartedly agreed to the answer, “Yeah, the love of the sport. The love of the sport. Yeah, whatever they love.”
While fans argue over the legitimacy of Power Slap and purists roll their eyes, Merab Dvalishvili’s open embracing of the event surely would’ve made many wonder if he would be open to being a participant in any of the future shows. After all, you never know what comes next in the realm of combat sports.
But for now, he knows the real slap will come on June 7. Whether it’s getting hit by Paige VanZant or Sean O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili appears to be prepared for anything. However, the injury rumors still persist. What is the injury, and is it really that serious that the Georgian might pull out?
Can Merab Dvalishvili’s cut put UFC 316 in jeopardy?
Only a few giggles with Nina Drama, a clever nod to Paige VanZant, and some blood later, and the UFC 316 main event still feels like it’s dangling by a thread. The gash under Merab Dvalishvili’s eye is not a little scrape that can be ignored. The same fans who were excited to hear him joke about Power Slap are now wondering whether they’re looking at the start of another cursed UFC pay-per-view.
Merab Dvalishvili’s training photos clearly show the damage. Perhaps not the smart move, but it’s right in line with a guy who seems to enjoy testing fate. Blood flowing, the wound open, and instead of slowing down, he continues sparring on as if nothing happened. However, it’s the type of decision that could backfire quickly.
This close to the contest, all it takes is one wrong angle, one commission officer taking their job too seriously, and the title fight is over. Given how successful the UFC has been in 2025, you’d think someone would hesitate before the entire card was flipped upside down. But then again, we’re talking about ‘The Machine.’ The man collects pre-fight injuries as souvenirs.
Prior to his fight against Umar Nurmagomedov, it was a sliced leg. Before that, it was a busted eye against O’Malley. Every time, everyone feared, but he consistently showed up and handled business. So, maybe he enters Newark with a fresh scar and leaves with his belt still on his waist. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
The post Would Merab Take a Slap From Paige VanZant? Nina Drama’s Burning Question Prompts Dvalishvili’s Final Verdict on Power Slap appeared first on EssentiallySports.
