“We cannot stop Russia,” Eympathetic Merab Dvalishvili gives an empowering message to Ukrainian people amid Rusia’s invasion

In the Post fight press conference, Merab discloses that Russia is powerful but Athletes can beat them in sports

“We cannot stop Russia,” Eympathetic Merab Dvalishvili gives an empowering message to Ukrainian people amid Rusia’s invasion

Merab Dvalishvili on Russia's invasion (Image Courtesy: CBS Sports)

The Georgian UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili condemns the existence of war not just in Ukraine but everywhere else in the post-fight press conference. Merab put on a clinic against the former Bantamweight Champion Petr Yan. He won all five rounds and emerged as the foremost contender in the Bantamweight division. But this was not his crowning achievement, as it came in the press conference following the fight.

Remembering his experience as a teenager in Georgia and the bombings, Merab showed his sympathy for the Ukrainian people. He addressed that Russia as a nation is powerful. But as an athlete, there is one thing fighters can do against Russia. He said, “We cannot stop Russia, so at least we can beat in sports.”

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The fight between Petr Yan and Merab had a lot of personal stakes in the mix, as Yan is a Russian fighter. History suggests that Georgia and Russia had many conflicts, and Merab suffered because of that during his teenage years.

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After beating Petr Yan, Merab is on a nine-fight winning streak and looks set to be in title contention. The victory over Yan appeared to be a massive weight off his shoulders after making the fight “personal” against Yan. Merab condemning wars worldwide is a memorable sight coming from a UFC fighter where fewer politics are always preferred.

Related: “Just smashed my TV” – Fans mourn downfall of Petr Yan as he gets drowned by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Las Vegas

Merab Dvalishvili denies fighting Aljamsain Sterling for the title due to their friendship

Sterling and MErab
Merab and Aljamain Sterling are best friends and will not fight each other (Image Courtesy – MMA Fighting)

Dvalishvili is on a nine-fight winning streak after defeating Petr Yan over five rounds. In most divisions, a nine-fight winning streak will get any fighter a title shot. But Merab’s case is different, as the Champion of his division is his best friend and training partner Aljamain Sterling.

Addressing the issue of his title shot, Merab said, “I want to be busy, and I’ll fight anybody. I want to be busy. Whoever. Whoever the UFC chooses for me to fight, I’ll fight. I don’t have no problem. This a good problem to have: two best friends, two teammates. My best friend is champion, and I’m one of the top (contenders). This is a good problem to have. We are cleaning the division.”

In the past, friendships such as Tito Ortiz and Chuck Lidell have been broken to make fights, but Merab feels his friendship with Sterling is more important as they will clean out the division together. Sterling is scheduled to fight Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 in May. If Sterling loses that bout, Merab will be free to fight for the title.

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