The bookies see Nurmagomedov giving Dvalishvili a tough time if the two clash in Merab’s first title defense at 135 pounds.
With a strong wrestling-based win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, Merab Dvalishvili is the new bantamweight champion. But will he be able to hold the belt for long with No. 1 contender Umar Nurmagomedov in the wings?
Following Dvalishvili’s unanimous decision win over O’Malley, SportsBetting.ag released odds on a fight against Nurmagomedov, whom UFC CEO Dana White has dubbed the next title challenger at 135 pounds. Their bookies had Umar opening as a -200 favorite to beat Merab, who was a +170 dog.
That’s a little surprising given how strong “The Machine” has looked in the cage, but Nurmagomedov has also been extremely impressive across his 6-0 run in the UFC, and he brings a pedigree that could nullify Dvalishvili’s key wrestling advantage.
Merab Dvalishvili remains adamant that Deiveson Figueiredo should get the next title shot, and says Umar Nurmagomedov should fight Petr Yan next
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There’s also Merab’s apparent reluctance to face Umar next. When asked about a fight with Nurmagomedov by Joe Rogan after his big win, Dvalishvili stumbled over his words as he refused to accept the Dagestani as his next opponent. He was more composed at the UFC 306 post-fight press conference, but the gist was still the same: he doesn’t want to fight Nurmagomedov.
“I wanna fight the top of the top, you know? Like [Deiveson Figueiredo], former champion, would be 5th champion on my list, and he’s more dangerous. Knockout power, good jujitsu, makes people sleep. And coming from three straight wins over top, top guys. That’s why this fight excites me. It makes me motivated. It makes me work hard.”
“Umar, he’s okay,” Merab continued. “But I’m telling you guys, from top 15, he only win one fight. And that was Corey Sandhagen. We all see what Aljamain Sterling did against Corey Sandhagen. Make him sleep in one round.”
The Georgian champion suggested Nurmagomedov fight Petr Yan next if he wanted to be worthy of a title shot. But in the end, “The Machine” knows how the UFC operates.
“I respect so much UFC, Dana White, Hunter [Campbell],” Dvalishvili said. “Whoever they want, I will fight next. But I wanna talk then more, like close, and I wanna become [Dana’s] friend.”