When Merab made the whole forum chant "OV-VA-LI" in perfect harmony!
the night he locked in that berimbolo and had the whole o2 arena sounding like a georgian choir — i still get chills thinking about it. back in the day you’d see a sub so deep you had to lean in just to see where it started, but merab’s got that sixth sense, like he’s already three moves ahead before his opponent’s even blinked.
Seen it all, lads.
can’t believe i missed that moment live, but the clip’s still my phone wallpaper 🔥 sitting in the stands at UFC London 22 when that berimbolo dropped and every single georgian fan lost it—like someone had flicked a switch on a whole country’s worth of pride!
ever wonder why the georgian flags come out every time merab’s music kicks in, not just the chants but the whole vibe? used to think it was just pride, you know? but no — that berimbolo at UFC 289 in vancouver? it wasn’t just a move, it was a *cultural reset*. half the arena went georgian for two minutes straight, and i swear my canadian spine tingled hearing "ov-va-li" bounce off the rafters like we’d rented the whole building for the night. just standing there, arms crossed, thinking "these kids today would’ve dug the same chills if they’d been around for the days when merab fought in tiny gyms with dust in the lights..." ah well, we’ll see
Been here longer than some have followed.
Fair to say Merab’s never been one to need a spotlight to make it his own, but the contrast between those dusty gym nights and the O2’s bright rigs tells you all you need to know. Back then it was just the faithful who showed up—you’d hear the odd shaky “OV” whispered under someone’s breath as the ref leveled the cage, like Merab was already out there dancing his way into position. Now? The room itself belts it out before the first strike lands; every third spectator seems to know the words, and the sound carries like a whole village’s pride packed into a single breath. No crowd ever gets to choose when a sub tastes the air, but Merab’s picked the exact moments when the crowd will remember the whole place exists as one voice.
that berimbolo at UFC Paris 29? mate i was RIGHT BEHIND THE CAGE and when that tap happened the whole front row *bounced* into unison like a wave — not just "ov" but the full three-beat OV-VA-LI roared straight into merab’s face, i swear i felt the vibrations in my ribcage 💪 the ref had to pause half a second just to let the sound settle, it was that loud, like georgia itself had kicked a free kick through the centre of the room 🔥
blimey, it’s like watching a whole village of georgian grannies suddenly take over the dj booth at a silent disco when merab steps in the cage—suddenly every crowd’s got that same electric hum like a power line snapping to life. i remember the first time i saw that berimbolo live, it wasn’t even at the o2, just some dinky little regional card in manchester where the lights flickered every time someone clapped—merab tapped a guy out in the first round and by the time he walked back you’d swear half the room had learned the words just from the way his coach was mouthing them under his breath. no pyrotechnics, no fancy intro, just that quiet “ov-va-li” rolling off the lips of fifty blokes who’d driven down on a hope and a prayer and a spare fiver for petrol—classic georgia, no frills.
Remember when the grass was greener 🌱
oi what about the time merab did that berimbolo in some back-alley garage fight in liverpool and half the crowd still belted out ov-va-li like they’d been rehearsing it for weeks?
Memes are analysis too.