umar_nurmagomedov & Getty Images)
The UFC bantamweight division is about to get even spicier. Fresh off his championship win, Merab Dvalishvili is already eyeing his next challenge. The Georgian warrior shocked the world at Noche UFC 306. He dethroned Sean O’Malley in a thrilling bout that had fans on the edge of their seats. Now, with the belt firmly around his waist, Dvalishvili isn’t just keen on resting.
At a recent press conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, ‘The Machine’ spilled the beans on his potential first title defense. And he has some serious news for fight fans. He believes that Umar Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Dagestani phenom, will be next, and sooner than later.
“The UFC hasn’t officially contacted me regarding my first title defense yet… Umar will probably be the next one facing me for the title, as he seems to have a lot of support right now. [Dagestani fighters] don’t usually fight during Ramadan, so it will most likely be before that. Maybe in the spring – February or March,” said Dvalishvili via She Loves Gloves.
Dvalishvili expects to face Nurmagomedov in early 2025, likely February or March. Why the wait though ? Well, all fights till UFC 309 are booked. UFC 311 seems to booked too with Islam Makhachev defending his title. So definitely after January is a possible timeline for the bantamweight title defense.
Merab Dvalishvili’s confidence is sky-high after his recent victories. He’s been on a tear, taking out top contenders left and right. His wins over Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley have cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with. But, Nurmagomedov, however, is no pushover. Fans are anticipating this fight.
Merab Dvalishvili Loses Respect For Umar Nurmagomedov In Latest Spat
Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov have been at each other’s throats since before Dvalishvili snatched the belt from Sean O’Malley. But now the gloves are off. It all started when Nurmagomedov accused Dvalishvili of ducking him.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
The Georgian champ wasn’t about to take that lying down. He fired back, calling Nurmagomedov disrespectful and a liar. Merab Dvalishvili challenged Nurmagomedov to show proof of these alleged fight offers.
“Umar Now not only are you disrespectful, you are a liar. If UFC offered you to fight with me 2 times – show the fans the contract and the dates…You lost my respect as a man and a martial artist. I will wait to hear from the UFC,” wrote Dvalishvili via X.
Merab Dvalishvili claimed he accepted a fight with Nurmagomedov earlier. The catch was, however, that he was nursing a broken hand at the time. It remains to be seen whether the UFC will consider putting these two against each other. Until then, fans can only speculate and debate the result!
