Merab Dvalishvili Vows to Make Umar Nurmagomedov Rematch Violent

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili talks about potentially fighting Umar Nurmagomedov in a title rematch.

Merab Dvalishvili Vows to Make Umar Nurmagomedov Rematch Violent

Merab Dvalishvili promises to destroy Umar Nurmagomedov in a title rematch (via X)

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Earlier this year at UFC 311, Merab Dvalishvili faced Umar Nurmagomedov in a highly anticipated bantamweight title bout. It was Dvalishvili’s first defense since capturing the championship against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, winning the bout dominantly. Although Nurmagomedov entered the contest as the betting favorite, the relentless ‘Machine’ secured victory via unanimous decision, stunning everybody. 

Following the loss, Nurmagomedov expressed disappointment over losing his undefeated streak, but he remained hopeful about his championship aspirations. The Dagestani contender is now scheduled to face Mario Bautista at UFC 321 in October, aiming for an important comeback. In a recent interview, Dvalishvili mentioned interest in a potential rematch, promising an even more dominant performance next time.

If he deserve the title fight again. If we fought again, this time I will beat the s**t out of him. 

Merab Dvalishvili via FULL SEND PODCAST 

After Dvalishvili’s victory at UFC 306, Nurmagomedov aggressively targeted him and campaigned relentlessly for his long-awaited title shot. The Georgian champion initially disliked this push, believing Nurmagomedov had not yet earned or deserved an opportunity to challenge for gold.

After all, at that time, ‘Young Eagle’ just had one ranked win in the UFC. Multiple back-and-forth exchanges between the two fighters escalated tensions, making the rivalry nastier and engaging for fight fans.

I always showed him my respect, and as men we don’t care about anything else, we just want respect. I got here for my work, but he got pushed because of his cousin, and that hyped him. I was mad when he disrespected me. He was disrespecting me, and that was personal for sure

Merab Dvalishvili continued.

During the opening phase of the fight, Nurmagomedov surprised Dvalishvili with sharp striking, gaining early momentum and confidence. As the fight progressed, the relentless ‘Machine’ relied on his superior cardio and wrestling, gradually exhausting the Dagestani contender completely.

Dvalishvili even mocked Nurmagomedov with playful emotes, breaking Dagestani dominance dramatically in front of Khabib Nurmagomedov. After the fight, Umar’s team revealed he suffered an early hand injury, significantly impacting his performance inside the octagon.

However, Dvalishvili quickly dismissed these excuses, openly sharing details about his own injuries sustained prior to entering the fight. He confidently stated the matchup still felt easy, even comparing the entire championship bout to nothing more than routine sparring.

Merab Dvalishvili talks about his future title bouts 

Merab Dvalishvili is currently scheduled to defend his bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320. The exciting matchup will take place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 14th. Sandhagen earned this opportunity after his dominant victory against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, which secured him a contender’s spot.

Merab Dvalishvili wants to fight four times in 2025
Merab Dvalishvili wants to fight four times in 2025 (via X)

Despite Sandhagen’s strong momentum, the Georgian fighter remains the overwhelming favorite to continue his title reign. Dvalishvili has consistently expressed his dream of becoming the most active champion on the roster, embodying nonstop action. The ‘Machine’ is already looking beyond Sandhagen, openly discussing plans to fight for the fourth time before the year’s end.

If I win, I want to turnaround quick and fight in December. I will ask the UFC for a favor to give me another fight in December or even November. Petr Yan is clear contender right now. He deserves it. I don’t want to make him wait too long.

Merab Dvalishvili continued. 

Once on a frustrating losing streak, Petr Yan has impressively bounced back, reminding fans why he deserves another bantamweight title shot. His recent comeback streak includes strong victories against top fighters such as Song Yadong, Figueiredo, and Marcus McGhee. With newfound momentum, a potential clash between Yan and Dvalishvili could deliver fireworks if booked at the end of the year.

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