Merab Dvalishvili Submits Larry Wheels Three Times in Under a Minute
Merab Dvalishvili gave Larry Wheels a quick reminder that raw strength does not always translate to grappling survival.
In a viral training clip, the former UFC bantamweight champion reportedly submitted the strength athlete and fitness influencer three times in under one minute, using smooth grappling transitions, rear-naked choke attacks, and guillotine-style control. MMA Mania also reported that Wheels tapped three times within 60 seconds during the session.
For casual fans, the clip was funny. For MMA fans, it was a perfect example of why Dvalishvili’s nickname, “The Machine,” fits him so well.
Larry Wheels Gets a Tough Grappling Lesson
Larry Wheels is known for incredible physical power. He has built a massive following through strength sports, bodybuilding-style training, and fitness challenges. But grappling against an elite MMA fighter is a completely different world.
Against Dvalishvili, Wheels quickly learned that strength alone is not enough when someone understands leverage, angles, pressure, and timing.
The most interesting part was not just that Dvalishvili got the submissions. It was how easy everything looked. He moved around Wheels without forcing anything, kept his balance, found the neck, and finished quickly.
That is what separates elite fighters from normal athletes. They do not simply overpower people. They make opponents carry weight, react to pressure, and lose energy without realizing it.
Why Merab’s Technique Works So Well
Dvalishvili has built his MMA career around pace, wrestling pressure, and endless movement. His style is not about looking flashy for one exchange. It is about making opponents work every second.
That same approach showed up against Wheels.
Even during warm-up drills, Dvalishvili’s movement appeared to drain the much larger athlete. His coach reportedly explained that staying light on the toes, creating angles, and using clean technique can exhaust even huge opponents.
That is a major lesson in grappling. The person who knows how to move usually controls the person who only knows how to push.
Dvalishvili became UFC bantamweight champion by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, where Reuters reported that he repeatedly used takedowns and ground control to shut down O’Malley’s striking game. That same pressure-based skill set is exactly why a strength athlete can look helpless in a grappling exchange with him.
Size Matters, But Skill Matters More
This video went viral because it shows a classic combat sports truth: size helps, but skill decides the game when the gap is big enough.
Wheels is far bigger and stronger than Dvalishvili. In the gym, that strength is world-class. But on the mats, every position has rules. If a fighter controls the hips, wins the angle, attacks the neck, or forces a bad reaction, muscle alone cannot solve the problem.
That is why fans love these crossover training clips. They show the difference between fitness strength and fighting skill in a clear way.
Dvalishvili was not trying to hurt Wheels. The session looked friendly, and Wheels appeared to handle the moment with humility. He later shared the clip online with the caption asking whether he should train with Merab, turning the humbling moment into a fun learning experience.
A Smart Viral Moment for Both Men
For Dvalishvili, the clip is another reminder of how effective his grappling is outside the Octagon. He has always been known for cardio and wrestling, but moments like this make his skill easy for casual fans to understand.
For Wheels, it is actually a good look too. He stepped into an uncomfortable situation, got outclassed by a professional fighter, laughed about it, and showed respect for the craft. That kind of humility plays well with fans.
In the end, the clip was not really about embarrassing Larry Wheels. It was about showing the difference between being strong and being trained.
Merab Dvalishvili needed less than a minute to make that point clear.
