Merab Dvalishvili became the new bantamweight champion, and many have been calling for Umar Nurmagomedov to be his first title defense. However, Dvalishvili feels Umar hasn’t proven himself enough to deserve a title shot. Similarly, Petr Yan believes Umar needs more wins against the top 15 fighters before earning a UFC title opportunity.
Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo battle at UFC Macau this weekend, each striving to secure a title shot with a win. Before his fight, Yan shared his thoughts on Umar Nurmagomedov’s title shot aspirations and accused Dvalishvili of avoiding a fight with Umar due to the challenge he presented.
“Merab is avoiding the fight with Umar Nurmagomedov. He understands that it is dangerous for him. He wants to defend the belt a couple of times against less risky guys. But Umar didn’t really beat anyone in the UFC TOP15 either and needs more wins to get a title shot,” Yan stated.
"Merab is avoiding the fight with Umar Nurmagomedov. He understands that it is dangerous for him. He wants to defend the belt a couple of times against less risky guys. But Umar didn't really beat anyone in the UFC TOP15 either and needs more wins to get a title shot."
— Pam (@ParamPam1990) November 21, 2024
— Petr Yan pic.twitter.com/h9f3wcSx5c
The bantamweight division is in complete chaos, and fans are loving every moment of it. Everyone is eager to see who “The Machine” will face next—whether it’s Yan, Figueiredo, or Umar. However, Yan believes Umar doesn’t deserve a title shot, accusing him of leveraging his family name to climb the ranks.
Petr Yan Doubts Umar Nurmagomedov Deserves A Title Shot, Cites Family Influence
Yan took the opportunity to criticize Umar Nurmagomedov’s rapid rise in the UFC. Yan believes Umar’s success is largely due to the support of his family, particularly his relationship with former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former bantamweight champion told MMA Fighting that while he recognizes Umar’s talent, he believes Umar needs more wins to become a true title contender.
“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,” he said.
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Yan believes Umar needs more wins to be a legitimate title contender but remains focused on reclaiming his bantamweight title at UFC Macau. Yan isn’t alone in his view; bantamweight champion Dvalishvili also thinks Umar’s success is influenced by his family name.
Also Read: Merab Dvalishvili Fires Back At Umar Nurmagomedov Over ‘Ducking’ Accusations
