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Thursday, Jan 16, 2025

Umar Nurmagomedov Says “Nervous” Merab Dvalishvili Was Pushed by UFC to Take Fight

Umar Nurmagomedov (right)(image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Merab Dvalishvili repeatedly argued that Umar Nurmagomedov should not be fighting him for the UFC’s bantamweight title yet, and according to the challenger, that’s because the champ’s nervous to fight him.

Following Nurmagomedov’s decision win over Cory Sandhagen this past August, he began aggressively calling for a title shot. Once Dvalishvili took the bantamweight throne from Sean O’Malley in September, however, he made it clear he didn’t think Nurmagomedov had done enough yet to fight for the belt.

Fast forward to today, and the two are booked to battle in the co-main event of UFC 311 this Saturday. At the pre-fight media day, the Dagestani challenger claimed Dvalishvili’s pushback about facing him, was because he’s nervous (quote via MMA Junkie.com).

“He’s nervous – of course he’s nervous,” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s maybe upset with UFC – they pushed him to fight with me. Even before he was champion, he don’t take this fight. He doesn’t want to fight with me and when he became champion I think he tried to fight with others because others would be easier fights for him.

“He can’t tell anything to UFC or Dana (White) to show them. He’s always talking he’s company guy, company guy – but they pushed him to fight with me.”

Nurmagomedov (18-0) has gone 6-0 to date in the UFC. Georgia’s Dvaslisvhili (18-4) was finally tapped for a title shot after putting together a 10-fight winning streak, following his controversial, 2018, submission loss to Ricky Simon.

UFC 311 is scheduled to take place in Inglewood, California.

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posted by FCF Staff @ 9:54 am
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