Petr Yan is scheduled to face Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau. However, Yan mocked Umar Nurmagomedov before this clash, claiming that Umar’s rapid success and rise in the division were due to his relationship with former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. As Yan prepares for his upcoming fight, he also discusses his prospects for a title shot.
Yan recently took a shot at Umar, saying his rise in the UFC was helped by the “big support” of his family name. In an interview with MMA Fighting, shared by Red Corner MMA on Instagram, Yan acknowledged that Umar is a talented fighter but believes his success has been fast-tracked due to his family’s influence. In the interview, the former bantamweight champion said,
“Umar is very young and obviously talented fighter, a very good fighter but we know what helped him to go so fast and rise up in the division. His family name helped him, he have a big support behind his back. So I believe, to be fair, he needs at least a couple more wins to be a contender for the belt.”
Yan also mentioned that Umar needs a few more wins before being considered a genuine title contender. Despite this, Yan is focused on reclaiming his bantamweight crown at UFC Macau. However, Yan isn’t the only one who believes Umar’s success is partly due to his family name. Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili shares the same opinion.
Merab Dvalishvili Thinks Deiveson Figueiredo Deserves Title Shot More Than Umar Nurmagomedov
Dvalishvili dominated Sean O’Malley to win the bantamweight title at Noche UFC 306. When asked if Umar would be his first defense, Dvalishvili said he’d consult with UFC CEO Dana White. Umar, who was in the crowd, hoped to hear his name, but it didn’t happen. At the press conference, Dvalishvili explained why he prefers Deiveson Figueiredo as his next opponent, saying:
“I think Figueiredo would be my fifth champion on my list. He is more dangerous, knockout power, good jiu-jitsu, makes people sleep. Coming from three straight wins, top guys, that’s why this fight excites me, makes me motivated, makes me work hard.”
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While some believe Dvalishvili is avoiding a fight with Umar, “The Machine” has shared his reasons for wanting to face Figueiredo instead. The futures of both Umar and Dvalishvili are still unclear, and fans are following the online back-and-forth until an official fight is confirmed. Only time will tell what’s next for these two fighters.
Also Read: UFC Macau Predictions: Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Preview And Picks
