Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

Video: Was Petr Yan’s UFC Macau win enough to steal Umar Nurmagomedov’s title shot?

Petr Yan was spectacular at UFC Macau to the point champ Merab Dvalishvili wants him next over unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov.

[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] showed he’s still very much among the elite of the bantamweight division Saturday when he won every round of his UFC Fight Night 248 main event against Deiveson Figueiredo.

After an ACL injury sidelined him for eight months, Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returned looking as sharp as ever when he delivered a clinical unanimous decision beating of fellow former UFC champ Figueiredo in their headlining bout at Galaxy Arena in Macau, and now there’s calls for him to fight for the belt once more.

One of those calls came form reigning 135-pound champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) himself, who again pushed the already-named next challenger Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) to the wayside and pitched a rematch with Yan, who he defeated by lopsided decision in March 2023, for a rematch at UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas.

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Is there any chance Yan’s performance can leapfrog him over Nurmagomedov? That was a topic of discussion on this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique” with panelists Mike Bohn, Nolan King and Dan Tom, who joined host “Gorgeous” George Garcia to debate the state of the bantamweight division.

Check out the segment above, or watch the complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below.

https://youtube.com/live/aHtEtvJT6g4

Merab Dvalishvili wants Petr Yan rematch at UFC 313 in March; Umar Nurmagomedov reacts

Umar Nurmagomedov ripped Merab Dvalishvili’s character after the champ called out Petr Yan for a rematch at UFC 313 in March.

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] was easily convinced when [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] called for a bantamweight title rematch between the pair after UFC Fight Night 248.

Former champion Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) delivered an emphatic performance on Saturday when he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by unanimous decision at Galaxy Arena in Macau, and afterward the Russian said his sights are set on reclaiming the belt now held by Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC).

The pair already crossed paths once before in March 2023. Dvalishvili won a lopsided unanimous decision where he shot a single-fight UFC record 49 takedown attempts, landing 11 of them but inflicting limited damage in the process.

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It appears Dvalishvili thinks Yan is worthy of a second chance after he since beat Song Yadong and Figueiredo, and even suggested a date of UFC 313 on March 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (via X):

Dvalishvili welcoming a rematch drew the ire of [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], who has already been named the top contender by UFC CEO Dana White. Despite being labeled as such, Dvalishvili has downplayed the matchup with the unbeaten rising star Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who is the cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Ultimately, Dvalishvili has repeatedly stated he will fight whomever the UFC deems as the correct opponent in the form of a bout agreement. Still, though, there’s frustration from Nurmagomedov’s side (via X):

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 248.

Watch Merab Dvalishvili lose it on UFC 308 fan who suggests he’s ducking Umar Nurmagomedov

New UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili isn’t keen on anyone who thinks he’s ducking contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

ABU DHABI – Think [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] is getting tired already of this [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] storyline?

Just a couple days after he told MMA Junkie there was method to his madness behind the idea that he could rematch former champ [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] next month, but not Nurmagomedov a month later, a fan put him on blast at a Q&A session ahead of Friday’s UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi.

The fan wanted to know if new bantamweight titleholder Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC), who dominated O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) at UFC 306 in September in September is ducking Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

And Dvalishvili makes his case pretty clear that not only does he think it makes sense to delay a Nurmagomedov fight – but that he might not even be the next worthy challenger, anyway.

Check out the tense exchange above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Video replay: UFC 308 Q&A with Merab Dvalishvili, Alexander Volkanovski in Abu Dhabi

Check out a Q&A with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

A champion and former titleholder were on hand ahead of the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins Friday to meet and greet fans and let them inside their processes.

New bantamweight champ [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] and former featherweight champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] took part in a fan Q&A with moderator and UFC broadcast voice John Gooden at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, which also hosts Saturday’s card (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Check out the full Q&A with Dvalishvili and Volkanovski above.

UFC 308 lineup

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 10 a.m. ET)

  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal
  • Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov
  • Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
  • Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
  • Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira
  • Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva

Why UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili is willing to fight Sean O’Malley in November but not Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili would prefer a full training camp to fight Umar Nurmagomedov.

UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] would prefer a full training camp to fight [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) claimed the 135-pound title when he defeated [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September. No. 1 contender Nurmagomedov has been pestering him about a fight date, but Dvalishvili said he’s willing to fight him in March – when Nurmagomedov can’t compete due to Ramadan.

But what rubbed Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and many others wrong was Dvalishvili offering O’Malley a rematch in November. Dvalishvili explains the reasoning behind his callout.

“I already fought him, and it’s easy to come back because we’re both in the same situation,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie on rematching O’Malley. “We both fought on Sept. 14, and we would both step back on the same day. But when somebody else has been ready for me, preparing for me, that’s a different story.

“With O’Malley, it’s easy because we’re both in the same situation. That’s why I told him we could do a quick turnaround for November. That shouldn’t be a problem because I was ready to fight O’Malley or ‘Chito’ Vera three weeks after I beat Henry Cejudo, but to fight somebody new, somebody with a different style. Yeah, I need time. I need two or three months.”

Dvalishvili revealed that the UFC mentioned December for his first title defense against Nurmagomedov, but he told them it was too early. He’s willing to compromise and fight early next year but is a little bothered about the criticism – considering that he just became champion a little over a month ago.

“I think February I’ll be ready,” Dvalishvili said. “I would like to fight February, so that’s it, and I want to fight three times next year. I want to be busy, but I just became champion, and I don’t understand why they want me to – I just want to relax.”

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Umar Nurmagomedov rips ‘bum’ Sean O’Malley for UFC 306 performance: ‘Merab played with him’

Umar Nurmagomedov criticizes Sean O’Malley for not showing a sense of urgency in his loss to Merab Dvalishvili.

[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] criticizes [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] for not showing a sense of urgency in his UFC 306 loss to [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag].

O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) dropped his bantamweight title to Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 306 main event in September. O’Malley was out-grappled for the most part but was able to hurt Dvalishvili with a body kick at the end of the fight.

Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) thinks O’Malley didn’t give it his all – especially with his title on the line.

“He’s a bum, brother. He’s a bum,” Nurmagomedov told Submission Radio. “He didn’t do what he has to. He was running. I don’t know, like, if you’re champion, you can’t come inside the cage and fight like that. He got out this fight; he even didn’t tire. He left cage like fresh. What are you doing, man? You have to go ahead, do everything you can do to defend your title, but you were running, you were scared, and this guy played with you.

“He kissed you. He played. You remember when he didn’t wait until the round finished and he went out. You know, it means like, hey, I want to do whatever I want with you. Merab played with him, and I don’t know how he can talk after.”

With O’Malley angling for a rematch against Dvalishvili and Dvalishvili seemingly being open to it, Nurmagomedov won’t be fazed if that’s the direction the UFC opts to go. He’s willing to fight someone else to remain active.

“I won’t be surprised. I don’t care,” Nurmagomedov said. “They can do whatever they want, and I just have my goal. I can’t fight in March. If you see (them) booking this fight in March, OK. What we’re going to do, we’re going to be active, we’re going to be active. We’re going to take out other opponent, smash him and go ahead.”

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Sean O’Malley thinks UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili is ‘actually terrified’ of Umar Nurmagomedov

Sean O’Malley thinks UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili wants no part of Umar Nurmagomedov.

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] believes UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] wants no part of [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) emerged as No. 1 contender after outlasting Cory Sandhagen in the UFC on ABC 7 main event in August. A month later, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dethroned O’Malley to become bantamweight champion at UFC 306.

O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is convinced he was robbed against Dvalishvili and called for a rematch – something Dvalishvili is willing to entertain. Nurmagomedov is convinced Dvalishvili is ducking him, and O’Malley agrees. He sees it as an opportunity to slide into the title fight after recovering from hip surgery.

“Merab vs. Umar, why is this not being announced?,” O’Malley said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Why aren’t they fighting in November? Why aren’t they fighting in December? I think January is – wasn’t January Islam (Makhachev)? I mean, I don’t know. Umar said that he’s down to take a fight that’s not Merab if Merab wants to wait blah, blah, blah.

“So I’m here, I’m ready to – well, not ready to go yet. I’ll be ready. He would prefer me. I think he’s actually terrified of Umar if I’m being honest. Not trying to troll, not trying to be goofy, I think Merab’s scared of Umar and would rather fight me. He would probably look at me as an easier fight. So yeah, I think he would pick that if he could.”

O’Malley is hoping to return in the first quarter of 2024 after undergoing surgery for a torn left labrum earlier this month.

“I’m saying March or April,” O’Malley said. “I’m doing everything I can do to get back in there. My mindset, my ambition, my drive, everything is at an all-time high. I want to get back in the gym. I want to get back to work. I want to get back on the mats. I want to make that walk again, and I want Merab next.

“I know I’m better than him. I need to right that wrong. I think Miami would just be sweet. That’s where I got to prove to everyone – for three-and-a-half years, I kept saying, ‘I’m better than ‘Chito’ (Vera), I’m better than ‘Chito.’ That was bullsh*t,’ and Miami, this year, I got to prove that. So, I would like to go back to Miami and prove that once again. Rematch Merab, that’s what I want.”

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Umar Nurmagomedov: UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili delaying title fight shows he’s ‘scared’

Umar Nurmagomedov is convinced Merab Dvalishvili is ducking him.

[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is convinced [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] is ducking him.

Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) claimed the No. 1 contender spot when he defeated Cory Sandhagen in his first UFC headliner in August. One month later, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dethroned Sean O’Malley to become bantamweight champion at UFC 306.

Dvalishvili has been dismissing Nurmagomedov as a rightful contender since prior to even winning the title. Nurmagomedov thinks Dvalishvili refusing to acknowledge him is not a good look, and claims Dvalishvili is purposely trying to push for March – where Nurmagomedov won’t compete because of Ramadan.

“Merab is trying to avoid my name, trying to tell me that I don’t deserve (a title shot),” Nurmagomedov told Kevin Iole. “Even if the UFC will ask him to fight me or someone else, I think he will choose someone else 100 times. He’s playing games. They know that I will not fight in Ramadan and they’re telling us we’re going to fight in March. March is all Ramadan.

“It’s looking very bad. It’s looking like he’s trying to avoid (me), like he is scared. I don’t understand how the champion is trying to avoid, but if they won’t fight with me, I don’t want to wait. Summer: June, July, May – I want to fight now. I want to fight after two months, before Ramadan, and I want to be active, and we’ll see what’s going to happen.”

Nurmagomedov’s patience is running thin. He has already opted to remain active by booking a grappling match Oct. 25 at ADXC 7, and is even contemplating taking another fight if Dvalishvili won’t fight him before Ramadan.

“I want to be active, and I want to fight before Ramadan,” Nurmagomedov said. “Maybe January or December it’s going to be a good time for me and then after Ramadan, we’ll see. Maybe Merab fights someone else and maybe he will lose, who knows.”

Nurmagomedov says he knew Dvalishvili would win the title if O’Malley couldn’t catch him.

“They’re both not very good,” Nurmagomedov said. “O’Malley’s a bum in MMA. He doesn’t have any grappling. He doesn’t have any wrestling, and he didn’t even try to fight him. He’s just waiting, he’s just running and he fights like a bum. Merab – he’s good. With Merab, you have to go ahead and fight. You can’t beat him when you’re running from him.”

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Video: UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili greeted with parade in home country of Georgia

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili received a hero’s welcome in Georgia.

UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] received a hero’s welcome in Georgia.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) outgrappled Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to claim the title earlier this month in the UFC 306 main event at Sphere in Las Vegas. He is on a 11-fight winning streak.

Dvalishvili had an opportunity to fly back home to Georgia, where he was born and raised. Plenty of fans came out to see “The Machine,” swarming him in the streets.

Dvalishvili took to Instagram to express his gratitude for the support.

“Thank you my country for such a warm greeting. I’m grateful for everything, Georgia and Georgian people are in my heart ❤️ 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🫂.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAhOXp3pRMo/?igsh=MjQzcHJxOWNwNWc1&fbclid=IwY2xjawFna_FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZTmF2TIi8dGqyn4pMKMygsMcyPLtwXsAdPYZj4jzLCPaqUVtzwZ1IhV8Q_aem_0Z3jJ-HvfGWG2WXqVruK5A

With Deiveson Figueiredo booked against Petr Yan in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event Nov. 23 in Macau, Dvalishvili is most likely looking at undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov for his first title defense.

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New champ Merab Dvalishvili offers Sean O’Malley rematch at UFC 309, Umar has a response

If Sean O’Malley wants a chance to get the bantamweight title back, the new champ says he can have it.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

If [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] wants a chance to get the bantamweight title back, the new champ says he can have it.

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) outworked O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for a unanimous decision in the UFC 306 main event a little less than two weeks ago at Sphere in Las Vegas. The bout was O’Malley’s second attempted title defense. He beat Aljamain Sterling to win the belt in August 2023, then beat Marlon Vera in March in his first defense.

While the fight with Dvalishvili appeared reasonably close on paper – Dvalishvili picked up a 49-46 score from one judge and 48-47s from two others – the fact remains no media outlets scoring the fight, as tracked by MMA Decisions, had it for O’Malley. A handful had 48-47 scores, but most had it 49-46 or 50-45 for Dvalishvili by a factor of about 2-to-1.

Still, O’Malley, on his YouTube podcast, said it’s his contention he won Rounds 1, 3 and 5 – and that the commentary helped create a bias among fans and pundits that he got his “ass whooped.” “I’m the champ. I won. Go rewatch that fight,” he said.

So if that’s the case, Dvalishvili said he’s down with a response on social media and even offered up a suggestion of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York in November.

“I hear O’Malley thinks he won the fight and is looking for a rematch,” Dvalishvili poster. “If he wants it he can have it. Let’s do it November 16th at the Garden and then I’ll still defend the title against whoever the UFC wants me to fight next. What do you think? @SugaSeanMMA”

O’Malley said there was “no debate” he lost Rounds 2 and 4, “100 percent,” but not the other three rounds.

Dvalishvili critics have started to surmise that the only reason he’s offering O’Malley a rematch is because he knows it’s not a viable option for his first title defense, and that it’s possible he’s ducking [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

Nurmagomedov seems to think that’s the case.

O’Malley is scheduled to have hip surgery next week and will be out for what is expected to be, at minimum, six months – but perhaps as long as a year. The hip injury reportedly was one he suffered in camp.

Later on social media, O’Malley took his turn to chime in and maintained his stance that he won three rounds.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

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