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Merab Dvalishvili now open to clash with friend Aljamain Sterling: if UFC offered good money, maybe we can fight’

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling. Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends. Both men, and their […]

UFC bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili backtracks decision to never fight teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling.

Prior to Sterling’s loss to Sean O’Malley, he and Merab Dvalishvili were widely considered the best two 135lber’s in the promotion. However, the pair have trained together for years at Serra-Longo Fight Team and are close friends.

Both men, and their coaches, have said that they would not be willing to fight one another citing their relationship.

“One thing is for sure: we’re never going to fight. Me and Aljo, we’re never going to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said before his bout with Marlon Moraes.

“To do that and to really try to fight each other and try to hurt each other, I go meet his family, he goes and meets my family. He goes to my country, Jamaica. I go to his country, Georgia. Dude, it’s just not even right,” Sterling said earlier this year.

Later in this same interview, Sterling did say that he would consider the fight if they offered him a big pay cheque, employing that it would need to be rather sizeable

Merab Dvalishvili makes u-turn

Now it seems though that Dvalishvili, who has been the one to strongly defend the position since Sterling became champion, would in fact be willing to take the fight. Talking on the MMA Hour, Dvalishvili stated that the UFC never made an official approach to make the fight and that he would consider it if the money were right.

“UFC never offered Aljo or me to fight each other,” Dvalishvili said. “I don’t understand why they complain to us (about) not fighting. Yes, of course I say I don’t wanna fight Aljo, and I don’t wanna fight Aljo. But if UFC offered fight, and UFC maybe offered good money, and we are maybe in a situation where there is no one else that we can fight, then maybe me and Aljo, we sit like always and maybe we can fight.” (H/T MMA News)

Continuing, Dvashvili reiterated that like Sterling, the money could entice him.

“But now they make a big deal, like, Aljo is always booked,” Dvalishvili continued. Aljo versus Petr Yan, then next TJ Dillashaw, after Henry Cejudo, and then they make him come back quick and give him (Sean) O’Malley. They never offered myself! They never offered me Aljo. I don’t understand why people complain. Of course I don’t wanna fight Aljo, like I said. But like Aljo said in one of his interviews, if UFC offered money, yeah, maybe we fight if there is no one else.”

Merab Dvalishvili appearing on The MMA Hour

Who would win, Merab Dvalishvili or Aljamain Sterling?

Aljamain Sterling wins BJJ contest, calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley: ‘Stop ducking the real contenders’

Former bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling had a few unsavory words for the man who took the title from him, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley on Saturday night. A little more than a month removed from his devastating second-round loss to O’Malley at UFC 292, Aljamain Sterling stepped on the mat as part of the Polaris 25 […]

Former bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling had a few unsavory words for the man who took the title from him, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley on Saturday night.

A little more than a month removed from his devastating second-round loss to O’Malley at UFC 292, Aljamain Sterling stepped on the mat as part of the Polaris 25 event in the UK. In addition to an eight-man Grand Prix tournament, submission grappling fans were treated to a superfight between the ‘Funk Master’ and former UFC standout, Mike Grundy. Sterling saw his hand raised, scoring a decision victory over Grundy.

Following the contest, Sterling sent a stern message to Sean O’Malley, telling the current 135-pound champ to either accept a rematch or take a fight with the next man in line.

“I got a message for mister sugar tits, because he’s still that to me,” Sterling said. “Give me my rematch or fight Merab [Dvalishvili]. It’s that simple. Stop ducking the real contenders and be a man and be a real champ and fight the best of the best. That’s what I did. Now you need to turn around and do the same exact sh*t.”

Whether It’s Aljamain Sterling or Someone Else, Sean O’Malley Already Knows What’s Next

Immediately following his win over Aljamain Sterling in August, Sean O’Malley called for a long-awaited rematch with the only man to defeat him inside the Octagon, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. The callout earned some criticism among fight fans considering ‘Chito’ had just bounced back from a loss to Cory Sandhagen in March. Meanwhile, No. 2 ranked contender Merab Dvalishvili is riding a nine-fight win streak, including a dominant victory over the very man that O’Malley beat to earn his own title opportunity, Petr Yan.

Regardless of what Aljamain Sterling may want to see happen at the top of the bantamweight division, the UFC appears to have already made its decision, as indicated by ‘Sugar’ in a recent interview with the promotion.

“I know exactly who, when, and where, but I got to play dumb,” O’Malley told UFC.com. “I know exactly what’s going on because, but I know the UFC is smart business and I know Dana White wants to wait and that’s what we’ll do. I want big fights. I want big PPVs. I remember saying this before being on the Contender Series. I want to break records and do massive PPVs; that’s what I still crave.”

Who do you see being the first man to challenge Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title?

Aljamain Sterling calls double standards in UFC: ‘I should get a title rematch if Israel Adesanya does’

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has questioned recent talk of an immediate title fight rematch for former two-time middleweight gold holder, Israel Adesanya – and why that same sentiment does not surface for him, despite his dominant run atop the 135lbs division. Sterling, the current number one ranked bantamweight contender, headlined UFC 292 back […]

Sterling, the current number one ranked bantamweight contender, headlined UFC 292 back in August, dropping his divisional crown to the incoming, Sean O’Malley – in the form of a second round TKO loss to the Montana native in Boston, Massachusetts.

And in the immediate aftermath of Sterling’s loss, O’Malley has instead, welcomed the possibility of rematching fellow card victor, Marlon Vera as soon as UFC 296 in December – in a rematch for the Chone native.

Furthermore, dropping his middleweight championship in one-sided fashion earlier this month to the outspoken, Sean Strickland, former two-time division champion, Israel Adesanya appears to be pegged to challenge for gold immediately once more, per UFC CEO, Dana White.

Aljamain Sterling calls double standards from UFC brass after title loss

And as far as Sterling is concerned, double standards appear to be at play for him, questioning why he has not been considered for an immediate re-run against O’Malley – whilst Adesanya, who has now lost his middleweight championship twice in the space of a year, has been.

“If we’re gonna talk about giving instant rematches, you give a guy who lost two fights in the same title reign – so he won the belt, he lost, beat the guy, and then came back and lost again to another guy,” Aljamain Sterling said on his official YouTube channel. “So, it’s like, how are you giving him (Israel Adesanya) another title shot?”

“And yhen you tell me that I don’t deserve it?” Aljamain Sterling explained. “That’s all I’m saying. I’m not knocking Izzy. Izzy, if they [the UFC] give you the title shot, brother, take that sh*t and run. But what I’m saying is, how do you get it and I don’t? If the fans, Dana (White), whoever can justify that to me and I could be like, ‘Alright, I can see the point.’ But I don’t see the point.”

Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling’s call for a UFC title rematch?

Sean O’Malley hilariously shuts down rematch call from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 293 in brutal clap back

Appearing to skirt a future title defense at the bantamweight limit against the streaking, Merab Dvalishvili in his Octagon return – newly-minted champion, Sean O’Malley has shut down an immediate title defense rematch with Aljamain Sterling next, after the Uniondale native called for a re-run during the broadcast of UFC 293 last night. O’Malley, just […]

O’Malley, just the second fighter from Dana White’s Contender Series to land Octagon gold, managed to do so last month in the main event of UFC 292, toppling the dominant Sterling with a spectacular second round TKO victory in Boston, Massachusetts.

And targeting a comeback to the Octagon before the close of this year – potentially on December 16. at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, Nevada, O’Malley has firmly set sights on a bid to avenge his sole professional loss in a showdown against former-foe, Marlon Vera.

Sean O’Malley claps back at Aljamain Sterling during UFC 293 broadcast

However, as for Sterling, the Serra-Longo MMA mainstay has made his thoughts on his future clear, displaying a note for O’Malley on his phone – calling for an immediate title rematch on the broadcast of UFC 293.

Seated back home in the United States and obviously tuning into watch the action at UFC 293 last night in Sydney, Australia – O’Malley clapped back and definitively shut down calls from Sterling for a rematch, simply showing his own phone screen with the word, “No”.

If it was close, maybe. pic.twitter.com/tUyFbhVk6x

— Sean O'Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) September 10, 2023

Expected to pursue a title rematch with Vera next, as mentioned above, Montana native, O’Malley has already shut down the possibility of a clash with Georgia native, Dvalishvili, claiming his win over Sterling in August is as good as a win over the Tbilisi grappling star.

“I knocked out Merab (Dvalishvili) on August 19th, the same night I knocked out Aljo (Aljamain Sterling),” Sean O’Malley said. “They’re the same, they hold hands, they’re the same person. I knocked them both out August 19th, so we’ll see what happens. I’ve called out the ‘Chito’ fight before me versus Aljo, before Pedro versus ‘Chito’.”

“I said, ‘Hey, ‘Chito’ goes out there and wins, I go out there and win, I’m fighting ‘Chito’ for my first title defense,’ And that’s what happened,” Sean O’Malley explained. That’s what’s going to happen next in my eyes. That’s what I want, but at the end of the day, I’ll go out there and knock out whoever they [the UFC] put in front of me.”

Would you like to see Sean O’Malley fight Aljamain Sterling again next?

Dana White addresses his issues with Aljamain Sterling: ‘He always seems to say the wrong things’

Despite how things may appear on the surface Dana White does like former bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling. Over the past year, the ‘Funk Master’ has been at odds with his employer, regularly citing a perceived lack of respect in interviews and on social media. Of course, the truth about who is truly at fault […]

Despite how things may appear on the surface Dana White does like former bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling.

Over the past year, the ‘Funk Master’ has been at odds with his employer, regularly citing a perceived lack of respect in interviews and on social media. Of course, the truth about who is truly at fault will change depending on who you are talking to and which side of the fence they fall on, but believe it or not, Dana White is actually fond of Aljamain Sterling behind closed doors.

Speaking with members of the media following Tuesday’s edition of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC President revealed that behind closed doors, Sterling is a fantastic guy. Unfortunately, the bantamweight great always finds a way to put his foot in his mouth when it comes to speaking publicly.

“So here’s the thing with Sterling. I’ll tell you my personal experience. When you sit down with Aljamain one-on-one, he’s a great guy,” White said. “He’s a great kid. Very likable. The decisions he makes in public and the things he says in public do not make him the most popular guy on the roster and it’s the weirdest thing. I don’t know if it’s self-sabotage, or what it is. He just always seems to say the wrong things in times when if he said anything even remotely to the right things, people would love him.

“I always say about the kid, the kid’s a good-looking kid. He’s got a great physique. When you sit down with him one-on-one, he’s a good kid, but in public, he just can’t help himself.”

Dana White likes Aljamain Sterling as a person but struggles to understand the constant “self-sabotage” of his own career.

Full video: https://t.co/md7arW0aXn pic.twitter.com/0Z8FZ3AvrX

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 6, 2023

Dana White Has No Need to Offer Aljamain Sterling Any Advice

Asked if he had any advice for Sterling, Dana White acknowledged all that the ‘Funk Master’ has accomplished in combat sports despite some of his lesser-appreciated qualities.

“He’s done pretty well without my advice,” White said. “I mean, look at what the kid’s accomplished. He’s made a lot of money and you know how I feel about the whole ‘Me and Merab are friends’ b*llshit. I don’t dislike Aljo. Like I said, one-on-one, he’s a good dude.”

Following Sterling’s second-round knockout loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 292, many, including former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo, suggested that the promotion took a deep sigh of relief when the ‘Funk Master’ surrendered his title in Boston. As a result, speculation has run rampant that Aljo may not get his rematch for fear that he could potentially reclaim the title and hurt the marketability of the UFC’s latest cash cow.

Do you see the UFC giving Aljamain Sterling a rematch once he’s ready to return to the Octagon in 2024?

Aljamain Sterling emotionally reflects on UFC career path after title fight loss: ‘I’m just happy I stuck with it’

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling gets emotional when talking about his journey to the top. Although Sterling is no longer champion after dropping his title to Sean O’Malley earlier this month, the 34-year-old is still a winner. Although losing something which becomes a big part of your identity will be a very emotional thing […]

Former UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling gets emotional when talking about his journey to the top.

Although Sterling is no longer champion after dropping his title to Sean O’Malley earlier this month, the 34-year-old is still a winner. Although losing something which becomes a big part of your identity will be a very emotional thing to go through, Sterling has a lot to be proud of.

Reflecting on his career, Sterling got emotional while appearing on Bradley Martyn’s podcast.

“People only see the wins, they don’t see all the other shit,” Sterling said. “Win or lose man, it was just one of those things I’m gonna do the best that I can and at the end of the day I can look at myself in the mirror and say ‘dude you gave it everything you had’.

“I tell people, you got to dream, you got to go for it- life is short and if I doesn’t work you can say that you tried. If you haven’t tried, it’s easy to sit there on your coach and judge people, ‘you suck’, ‘you should be doing something else’ but I’m just happy I stuck with it.

“Almost 10 years later, I’d be a world champion, defended the belt three times, nine fight win streak, fought all over the world. I bought my mom a house, craziest thing I’ve been able to do… Life is good man. I think about all the people who have it worse than us.”

What’s next for for Aljamain Sterling?

Sterling is in an interesting predicament in terms of his next step. ‘Funkmaster’ had said before the O’Malley fight that he would move up to featherweight regardless of the outcome but has since backtracked.

It also seems that the O’Malley is more interested in taking on Marlon Vera rather than an immediate rematch. Sterling is also close friends and training partner with Merab Dvalishvili, who is the No.1 contender and and the pair refuse to fight each other.

Aljamain Sterling appearing on Bradley Martyn’s podcast

What would you like to see Aljamain Sterling do next?