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Anthony Smith questions Merab Dvalishvili, Aljamain Sterling friendship: ‘I don’t know if it goes both ways’

Merab Dvalishvili, Aljamain Sterling, Anthony Smith Anthony Smith doesn’t believe Aljamain Sterling reciprocates the same level of respect towards teammate Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili earned a significant victory over former champion Petr Yan this past weekend at UFC 71. He’s now the #1 ranked contender in the bantamweight division. Nonetheless, “The Machine” isn’t interested in fighting his teammate and current champion Aljamain […]

Anthony Smith doesn’t believe Aljamain Sterling reciprocates the same level of respect towards teammate Merab Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili earned a significant victory over former champion Petr Yan this past weekend at UFC 71. He’s now the #1 ranked contender in the bantamweight division.

Nonetheless, “The Machine” isn’t interested in fighting his teammate and current champion Aljamain Sterling.

During an appearance on the “Believe You Me” podcast, Smith shared his thoughts on the Dvalishvili-Sterling friendship.

“I think that this has to be kind of a mutual thing,” Smith said. “And it’s gonna be some hard conversations, but if Aljamain is as good of a friend to Merab as Merab is to Aljo – and that’s the thing, I don’t know that I’ve seen it go both ways. What I’ve seen is Merab ride hard as s**t for his best friend. I haven’t always necessarily seen it go the other way for Aljo, maybe he’s just not – well I’m not saying they’re not, I’m just saying I haven’t seen it.” (Transcribed MMA News)

UFC president Dana White advised Dvalishvili to look after his own interests. He doesn’t think it’s a good idea for the Tbilisi, Georgia native to avoid a fight with his close friend.

Merab Dvalishvili Does Not Envision a Scrap with Aljamain Sterling

Dvalishvili and Sterling are long-time teammates who represent the Serra-Longo Fight Team. A matchup between the two bantamweights seems unlikely due to their close relationship but things could change.

There have been many UFC matchups between former teammates. Examples include T.J. Dillashaw-Cody Garbrandt, Colby Covington-Jorge Masivdal, Kamaru Usman-Gilbert Burns and Jon Jones- Rashad Evans.

Sterling is reportedly expected to face Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 on May 8. Since winning the bantamweight title in March 2021, the “Funk Master” has defended the strap twice- against Yan and Dillashaw.

Dvalishvili, 32, is on a nine-fight unbeaten streak. His resume includes wins over Yan, José Aldo, Marlon Moraes, Cody Stamann and John Dodson.

Henry Cejudo calls for Merab Dvalishvili title fight at UFC 288, expects Aljamain Sterling to withdraw

Former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo has pleaded with promotional president, Dana White to install surging contender, Merab Dvalishvili into his planned May 8. title fight return at UFC 288 – claiming current undisputed champion, Aljamain Sterling will likely withdraw from their fight. Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion under the promotion’s banner, […]

Cejudo, a former undisputed flyweight and bantamweight champion under the promotion’s banner, is scheduled to snap his three-year retirement on May 8. at UFC 288 in Newark, New Jersey – booking an undisputed title fight against the above-mentioned Uniondale native, Sterling.

The Los Angeles-born wrestler co-headlined most recently in a bantamweight title defense against former gold holder, Dominick Cruz – retiring after scoring a buzzer-beating second round TKO victory.

As for Sterling, the Serra-Longo MMA staple managed to lodge his second successful defense of the bantamweight title at UFC 280 back in October on ‘Fight Island’ – dispatching common-foe, T.J. Dillashaw with a one-sided series of second round ground strikes.

Henry Cejudo calls for Merab Dvalishvili to feature at UFC 288

Slated to headline in New Jersey in two month’s time, Cejudo reveals he has his doubts regarding Sterling’s ability to meet the UFC 288 date – calling for a fight with the above-mentioned, Dvalishvili off the back of his dominant win over Petr Yan last night.

“Dear @danawhite I want @merab.dvalishvili as a back up,” Henry Cejudo posted on his official Instagram account. “Let me show you what I can do. #andnew. I’m over here watching the number two and number three contenders and I’ve got a feeling that Aljamain (Sterling) is more likely to back out of this fight. So, that being said, why don’t you give me Merab?”

Dear @danawhite I want @MerabDvalishvil as a back up. Let me show you what I can do. #andnew pic.twitter.com/PJPjRXfOee

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 12, 2023

Catching wind of Cejudo’s calls, the current #1 ranked bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley offered to serve as an official backup fighter at UFC 288, however, the former urged him to take a back seat for the time being.

“I’ll be ready, bud,” Sean O’Malley replied to Henry Cejudo.

“Trust me, you won’t be ready!” Henry Cejudo wrote. “Take your time get your nails done and your hair did. And watch me work.”

Dana White warns Merab Dvalishvili against refusing fight with Aljamain Sterling: ‘It would be a really bad idea’

UFC president, Dana White has claimed it would be a “really bad idea” for UFC Las Vegas main event victor, Merab Dvalishvili to avoid a championship fight with his training partner, Aljamain Sterling next, after the Geogian dispatched former titleholder, Petr Yan with relative ease last night in ‘Sin City’. Headlining the promotion’s trip to […]

Headlining the promotion’s trip to The Theater at Virgin Hotels, surging #3 ranked division contender, Dvalishvili pitched a clear shutout against former undisputed champion, Yan – notching a one-sided unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) win on his belt over the Dudinka native.

Both pre and post-fight, Tbilisi native, Merab Dvalishvili stressed how if he worked his way to a title offing in the future while Serra-Longo MMA teammate, Sterling still sat atop the bantamweight throne, he would refuse to fight the Uniondale native.

Dana White issues title warning to Merab Dvalishvili

However, UFC leader, White has claimed that should Dvalishvili wait for Sterling to potentially pursue a featherweight title shot in the future, he would be making a sizeable error.

“That’s a personal decision he (Merab Dvalishvili) needs to make,” Dana White told assembled media following a Power Slap League event. “If that’s what he wants to do, I can tell you how that story ends. It’s not a good ending to that story. But, he’s a big boy, he can figure that out on his own.”

“You can still be friends and want what your friend has,” Dana White explained. “It would be a really bad idea for Merab to go down that path [avoiding Aljamain Sterling].”

As for Sterling, the undisputed bantamweight champion – who was cornering Dvalishvili in his judging win over Yan last night, is scheduled to headline UFC 288 in May in Newark, New Jersey – attempting to land his third defense of the division throne against the returning former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo.

As part of his now-nine-fight winning spree, Dvalishvili has defeated the likes of John Dodson, Marlon Moraes, and former undisputed featherweight champion, Jose Aldo.

Petr Yan Gives His Prediction For Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has provided his prediction for the expected next title fight in his division. Ever since he recorded his second successful title defense last October at UFC 280, it’s been widely expected that Aljamain S…

Continue Reading Petr Yan Gives His Prediction For Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo at MMA News.

Petr Yan Gives His Prediction For Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo

Continue Reading Petr Yan Gives His Prediction For Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley begins camp, Aljamain Sterling offers him UFC 288 title shot in May: ‘Be ready’

The stacked UFC bantamweight division has some turbulence at the very top. ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley is possibly receiving a title shot against ‘Funk Master’ Aljamain Sterling because Henry Cejudo may be waffling on their agreed-upon showdown. It seemed nearly confirmed that the former champion Henry Cejudo would be coming out of retirement to challenge for […]

It seemed nearly confirmed that the former champion Henry Cejudo would be coming out of retirement to challenge for the crown against the current bantamweight king Sterling. It was targeted for UFC 288 on May 6. ‘Triple C’ Cejudo has been talking about it non-stop. But apparently, the ink is not yet dry. As team Cejudo is hesitating, the top-ranked O’Malley might get a shot at the crown.

On Twitter, ‘Sugar’ Sean already called his shot. He said:

“Can’t wait for May 6th.”

The current UFC bantamweight world champion responded:

“Facts! The turd isn’t making up his mind. Be ready my guy. This is the fight the fans really wanted to see anyway.”

Facts! The turd isn’t making up his mind. Be ready my guy. This is the fight the fans really wanted to see anyway. https://t.co/NiyySrxK5E

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 7, 2023

Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O’Malley?

As Henry Cejudo’s team is struggling behind the scenes to make up their minds, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley is happy to step in for a clash against the world champion. In his most recent bout, O’Malley went to war in an unforgettable bout against the former division king Petr Yan. It was a close back-and-forth matchup which saw the US-born ‘Sugar’ get his hand raised.

UFC 288 will also feature the former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is looking to get back in the win column against the dangerous grappler Beneil Dariush. Fans are hoping to also have a bantamweight title clash on this card as well, but the opponent is not yet known.