Merab Dvalishvili Explains Next Steps For Gold-gunning Umar Nurmagomedov To Secure Title Rematch

According to Merab Dvalishvili, he won't entertain a UFC 135-pound PPV title booking against Umar Nurmagomedov just yet.

Merab Dvalishvili Explains Next Steps For Gold-gunning Umar Nurmagomedov To Secure Title Rematch

Merab Dvalishvili says Umar Nurmagomedov needs three more wins for title crack (Source: X)

When Umar Nurmagomedov stepped into the fray of his first UFC 135-pound title crack, he was riding an undefeated streak at 18-0. Other than that, he posed high-caliber wrestling that had been a hard cookie for other opponents. But Merab Dvalishvili rallied for a late-championship-round dominance against him and defended his gold successfully. Now, ‘Young Eagle’ is perched for the next shot.

Umar Nurmagomedov recently told the ‘Hustle’ Vlog that all isn’t lost, and he got positive reinforcements to grind on and get his next title crack. Later in the same media interview, the #3-ranked bantamweight also said he wants to be champ, with or without Merab Dvalishvili, and was willing to put in the work required for it.

Dvalishvili agrees; he himself has to put on a body of work and a 10-fight streak for a crack at gold. The Syndicate MMA/Serra-Longo (LV) team fighter’s mate, Aljamain Sterling, even often presents that those looking for a title opportunity against him should scout out after doing the same.

‘Machine’ was a guest fighter for a UFC Baku pre-fight Q&A session this Friday. He billed that Nurmagomedov needed quite a few in the bank to get his crack at gold again.

Or maybe two more…
Maybe three more…We’ll see. Whenever UFC will give him a title fight, I’m here.

Merab Dvalishvili during UFC Baku Q&A

Despite a strong start, 135-pound king Merab Dvalishvili outpaced and bled him dry for a UD win (48-47, 49-46, and 48-47). He even later claimed his FOTN-worth title defense was rather easy and equivalent to a sparring session. However, Nurmagomedov, 29, has age and mileage ahead to reverse those perceptions if he could.

For now, Dvalishvili is locked onto No. 4-ranked bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen and has verbally agreed to it twice as his next defense. Previously, the Georgian had shown similar interest in Petr Yan too; Nurmagomedov, though, does not trail behind. Moreover, he has UFC headman Dana White’s blessings, who name-dropped Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 316 post-fight presser.

TJ Dillashaw is pitching a wild opponent for Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight title defense next

When Dvalishvili was just a contender in the 135-pound division, Dana White often took umbrage at his refusal to fight his teammate, Aljamain Sterling, who was the belt-holder at the time. Since then, ‘Aljo’ made his 145-pound debut at last year’s milestone UFC 300 PPV card and stands at 1-1 in the division.

Friend and former champ name-dropped as next Merab Dvalishvili title defense
Friend and former champ name-dropped as next Merab Dvalishvili title defense (Source: X)

Merab Dvalishvili climbed up the ladder and has had immense success since Sterling lost his gold at UFC 292 to Sean O’Malley and moved on. Machine has defeated O’Malley twice, the second time via third-round submission (neck crank) – 4:42 into the round at the UFC 316 PPV main event. He also made an intermediate defense against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and is on a 13-fight win streak in total.

It always struck a chord when friends Sterling and Dvalishvili were in the same division and got told to face each other to climb the contention ladder. But now, the circumstances are different. Former bantamweight TJ Dillashaw thinks they’d make for a banger PPV fight against each other.

I want to see Merab and Sterling fight…They could make so much money. I understand [they’re best friends] but you’re getting paid…who gives a sh*t— [Aljo] should come back down… You’re here to get paid, I don’t know, I think it’d be an awesome story.

TJ Dillashaw on the ‘JAXXON’ Podcast: UFC 316 Recap

Dillashaw also sees Sterling’s intelligent wrestling as the only one causing trouble for Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian touts monster cardio; the UFC 135-pound king’s enormous pace to peel off on TD attempts recently surpassed a longstanding record even. While highly unlikely, such a clash between similar talents might be a success by all means.

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