Being the champion of a division puts you at the center of the spotlight, and that’s exactly what’s happening with Merab Dvalishvili. Now that he’s the Bantamweight champion, all eyes are on him, whether it’s over a confrontation with the crowd at the arena or a back-and-forth with Umar Nurmagomedov. With all the attention on him, Merab says he’s learning to handle the spotlight, comparing the experience to how Conor McGregor and Jon Jones dealt with their own media attention and scrutiny throughout their careers.
In a recent interview, Dvalishvili talked about handling the pressures of being a champion. He mentioned that he’s still figuring things out, and the best way to approach it is to stay busy, keep fighting, and enjoy the moment. UFC Champ also shared that he draws inspiration from fighters like Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, and Jon Jones, all of whom have faced their fair share of scrutiny and controversy.
He said, “Now I feel like I’m a Conor McGregor; a lot of drama comes, you know. I feel like even Jon Jones and Mike Tyson used to get a lot of drama before. I’m like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ Same guy, trying to do the same things, but it’s all good.”
It seems Dvalishvili can’t avoid taking shots at Umar Nurmagomedov anymore, with their big fight just weeks away. It will be interesting to see if Merab can back up his words and confrontations by continuing to win, just like McGregor, Jones, and others have done in the past.
Merab Dvalishvili Warns Umar Nurmagomedov Ahead Of UFC 311
Dvalishvili is set to defend his bantamweight title against Umar at UFC 311, and the tension is palpable given what has happened. Merab has warned Umar that if he doesn’t apologize, he’s making a trip to Dagestan after the fight. The animosity between them was clear at a recent press conference, and Dvalishvili didn’t hold back during an interview with Ariel Helwani. He revealed that Umar’s online trash talk really got to him, making this clash even more personal.
He said, “He [Nurmagomedov] may get slapped after the fight. Because the fighting [inside the cage] not a real fight, it’s a sport. Yeah, if Umar doesn’t apologize [to] me, it’s going to happen. Even if I have to go to Dagestan, I will go.”
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
The Georgian fighter feels disrespected by the constant trash talk from the title challenger. Now, the real question is whether ‘The Young Eagle’ will apologize — but that’s still up in the air.
Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov Worried As Islam Makhachev And Umar’s UFC Title Fights Land On Same Night
