Georgian judo champion Beka Gviniashvili has successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts with a dominant first-round victory that lasted just 38 seconds.
Competing in the super welterweight division at 175 lbs (79.4 kilograms), Gviniashvili faced Bulgarian opponent Veselin Dimitrov in what turned out to be one of the quickest finishes of the evening. The judoka wasted no time implementing his grappling credentials, securing an immediate takedown before unleashing devastating ground strikes.
Gviniashvili controlled the action from the opening moments.
The bout ended via referee stoppage due to strikes from top position, with Dimitrov offering minimal resistance against the newcomer’s assault. The broadcast team noted the record-setting pace of finishes on the card.
The official announcement confirmed the result:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, after 38 seconds of the very first round, we have a winner due to referee stoppage to Crown and Pound in the red corner.”
Following his victory, Gviniashvili took to social media to express gratitude to his supporters and signal his intentions in the sport.
“Thank you very much for all your support,”
he wrote.
“This is just the beginning. 1-0-0.”
Dimitrov entered the contest with a professional record of 15-43, having dropped his previous three consecutive bouts. The Bulgarian veteran had recently endured similar ground-and-pound defeats, making him a favorable matchup for Gviniashvili‘s promotional debut.
The Georgian’s original opponent, Farid Mirzabekov, was scheduled for an October 3rd date, though that bout was ultimately cancelled, leading to the rescheduled matchup with Dimitrov.
With his judo pedigree now translating successfully to the cage, Gviniashvili appears poised to make waves in his new combat sports venture.
