Merab Dvalishvili stunned by Rousey

Merab Dvalishvili said on May 18 that he did not expect Ronda Rousey to finish Gina Carano as quickly as she did in the main event of MVP MMA 1. Bloody Elbow reported that Dvalishvili, speaking to reporters after the show, said he was stunned by Rousey’s return because he had trained with Carano ahead of the fight. Rousey submitted Carano in 17 seconds, according to Bloody Elbow and other postfight coverage. The bout headlined Most Valuable Promotions’ first MMA event on Netflix. ### Why was Dvalishvili’s reaction notable? Merab Dvalishvili had already attached himself publicly to Carano’s side before the fight. Earlier in May, MMA Junkie reported that Dvalishvili had trained with Carano at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas and said he liked what he had seen from her in camp. He predicted that Carano could beat Rousey in their comeback matchup. (bloodyelbow.com) Bloody Elbow’s May 18 report made that earlier backing central to the surprise. The outlet said Dvalishvili told reporters he had worked with Carano and was caught off guard by how fast the fight ended. The report described him as “stunned” by the result after watching Rousey return from a long layoff and secure the finish almost immediately. (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) ### What exactly happened in the fight? Ronda Rousey beat Gina Carano by submission in 17 seconds on May 16, according to Bloody Elbow’s postfight report and round-by-round coverage aggregated in search results. The finish came in the first round of a fight promoted as the return of two of the most recognizable names in women’s MMA. (bloodyelbow.com) Netflix’s Tudum page for the event said the card was promoted by Most Valuable Promotions and streamed live globally on Netflix. The main card also included Nate Diaz against Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou against Philipe Lins, placing the Rousey-Carano fight at the center of a broader crossover event built around established combat-sports names. (bloodyelbow.com) ### Why had Dvalishvili favored Carano beforehand? Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas was the link. MMA Junkie reported on May 2 that Dvalishvili and Carano had gotten in several training sessions there before the fight. That prior access gave his pre-fight comments more weight than a generic prediction because they were based on time spent with her in the gym. (netflix.com) Other pre-fight coverage also reflected Dvalishvili’s confidence in Carano. Search results from LowKick and other outlets show he had gone further than a routine pick, arguing that Carano’s preparation and what he saw in training made him believe she could upset Rousey. ### What does Bloody Elbow’s report add? (mmajunkie.usatoday.com) Bloody Elbow’s May 18 story adds the immediate postfight reaction from a fighter who had direct experience with one side’s camp. The outlet framed Dvalishvili’s comments around the contrast between his expectation and the actual outcome — a 17-second submission by Rousey in her first fight back after years away. (lowkickmma.com) Google News results cited Bloody Elbow’s item among the first wave of follow-up coverage after the event, alongside broader reports on Rousey’s win and retirement comments. That places Dvalishvili’s remarks in the early reaction cycle around the MVP-Netflix show. (bloodyelbow.com) ### What comes next after the event? Bloody Elbow published Dvalishvili’s comments on Monday, May 18, two days after the May 16 event. Netflix’s Tudum page remains the official event listing for the full MVP MMA 1 card, while follow-up coverage has focused on Rousey’s quick finish and the fallout from the promotion’s first MMA show. (bloodyelbow.com) (news.google.com)