“Tired of listening to Umar disrespect him,” Merab Dvalishvili demanded Umar Nurmagomedov title fight ASAP after heavy slander
Newly-crowned bantamweight 'Machine' Merab Dvalishvili demanded for Umar Nurmagomedov title fight at the UFC 311 PPV.
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Newly-crowned champ Merab Dvalishvili demanded Umar Nurmagomedov fight ASAP at UFC 311 (Source: IMAGO/X)
The UFC is kicking off its 2025 pay-per-view year with a bang on the 18th of January with UFC 311 PPV in Los Angeles. It features a pair of big title fights. UFC 135-pound belt-holder Merab Dvalishvili meets Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-headliner. As it turns out, Dvalishvili demanded this dangerous maiden defense booking.
UFC 311: Makhachev vs Tsarukyan, Live from Intuit Dome in Inglewood sees Islam Makhachev back in action. He finally logs another defense against Arman Tsarukyan in a long-awaited rematch. However, Mean ‘Machine’ Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov is surprising. Promotional CEO Dana White gives the deeds on how it came to be.
Just finalized last night… the co-main event will now be a bantamweight title fight…Merab came into the office late last night and told us he’s tired of listening to Umar disrespect him and that he wants to make this fight as soon as possible, …We called Umar, he was sleeping in Dagestan, and he said, ‘Hell yes! Anywhere, any time.’
Dana White via IG (@danawhite)
Since beating Sean O’Malley back at Noche UFC, Merab Dvalishvili has been reluctant on this. But the wrestler vs. wrestler became a must-see PPV after O’Malley’s striking pitfalls. Dvalishvili asked to fight anyone but Nurmagomedov, saying Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin only gets a chance because of his surname. “The Machine” called for Deiveson Figueiredo, then Petr Yan when Yan beat Figgy.
Makhachev vs Tsarukyan and Dvalishvili vs Nurmagomedov is LIVE January 18th from @intuitdome, California! #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/XZuAFUYAyC
— danawhite (@danawhite) December 5, 2024
This fight is a month and a half away and Umar has just revealed that he’s been on the mend from a broken arm. If both men are equal in the wrestling department, ‘Machine’ will still have his cardio to fall back on. ‘Young Eagle’ may not be 100% on with just six weeks’ preparation. That could also be a prime motivator for a call-up. However, he has plenty of avenues for hitting back at slander on his own as well.
Umar Nurmagomedov rips champion for taking banter to other levels
Bantamweight title contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, has long wanted to fight Merab Dvalishvili for the 135-pound strap. However, the Georgian denied his mettle, due to a lack of highlights over ranked opponents. ‘Professor’ Dvalishvili even took out the board for lessons in top contention and proved him unworthy.
Umar Nurmagomedov has only one ranked win that came at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov. But he was willing to tolerate such systematic snubs. “A coward will always find an excuse to retreat – Georgian proverb,” Umar wrote on X, responding to all that. Maybe, substitute Ali Abdelaziz here.
Such disrespect for Georgia prompted Merab to storm UFC CEO Dana White’s office on Tuesday night to demand the fight. The country is currently experiencing a national crisis, with tens of thousands on the streets protesting recent election results. Nurmagomedov, though, lambasts him for dragging national sentiment into it all.
Do not drag your country or nation into a personal conflict with me. When you meet me in person, do not turn away.
Umar Nurmagomedov via X (@UNmgdv)
Do not drag your country or nation into a personal conflict with me.
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) November 25, 2024
When you meet me in person, do not turn away. https://t.co/fIQD2HiQdU
The champ opened as a +185 underdog for the UFC 311 clash. The unbeaten challenger is priced at -220. Whatever way this banter goes, Nurmagomedov has some clear intentions in mind and he’ll keep to it. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili will aim to improve his undeniable legacy at bantamweight.
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