Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

Aljamain Sterling’s Teammate On Trading Punches With Fan Who Antagonized Dvalishvili At UFC 310: ‘Hopefully No Charges Pressed…’

On his The Weekly Scraps Podcast, Aljamain Sterling looked to recap his recent fight at UFC 310 this past weekend. In his second fight at featherweight, the former bantamweight champion lost a close decision to Movsar Evloev who now occupies the #4-ranking at 145-pounds. Though his prelim bout with the undefeated Russian certainly delivered, there […]

On his The Weekly Scraps Podcast, Aljamain Sterling looked to recap his recent fight at UFC 310 this past weekend. In his second fight at featherweight, the former bantamweight champion lost a close decision to Movsar Evloev who now occupies the #4-ranking at 145-pounds.

Though his prelim bout with the undefeated Russian certainly delivered, there was another major talking point regarding Sterling’s team. His long-time training partner and coach, the bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, got into a heated exchange with a member of the audience inside the T-Mobile Arena.

A video posted on social media shows that as they were walking to the back after the fight, Dvalishvili had to be separated from this fan only for their other teammate and cornerman, Dennis Buzukja, to trade punches with him before security could break it up. Dvalishvili has since shared a video that claims that the fan is actually a close friend of the likes of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, who the champion faces at UFC 311 in January.

Buzukja, who last fought in the UFC this past August, detailed his side of the story during the podcast.

“I don’t know if he had touched Merab as we were walking in, but somehow he got Merab’s attention and then Merab went and tapped his shoulder and just gave him the finger and then the guy gave him the finger back or whatever, he got all jumpy.

“Then as the fight finished and we’re walking back on the other side, this f****** guy comes across the whole crowd and then goes and, you’ve seen the video, he grabs Merab’s arm and then says something to him in, I guess Russian or whatever he said, and Merab started going crazy. Then we got into a little physical altercation, but that was really it. So hopefully no charges pressed and we move on.”

Buzukja went on to say that he had first got involved in the confrontation to dry and diffuse the situation but that quickly changed once he was assaulted.

“I went and approached him and I just put his hand down, I was trying to deescalate and tell him, ‘Yo, calm down, bro. Relax.’ Merab was going away, I just wanted to tell him to relax, have some respect. Then he cracked me first, actually, he cracked me with a nice little left hook and then it was just instinct to hit him back. Then security came in, but part of me is like, ‘Should I just drop the bucket and just jump over and start swinging?’ Just go full, f****** degenerate, but I’m glad it didn’t happen that way.”

Merab Dvalishvili Gives His Side Of Fan Altercation At UFC 310: ‘Deliberate Provocation From Umar’s Team!’

At UFC 310, Merab Dvalishvili appeared to get into a heated confrontation with a fan in the audience whilst he was walking out with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling. The video posted on social media sees the UFC bantamweight champion getting pulled away by security as another member of the corner traded punches with the fan. […]

At UFC 310, Merab Dvalishvili appeared to get into a heated confrontation with a fan in the audience whilst he was walking out with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling. The video posted on social media sees the UFC bantamweight champion getting pulled away by security as another member of the corner traded punches with the fan.

Dana White said in his post-fight press conference that he tried his best to keep Dvalishvili separate from Umar Nurmagomedov and his team but he can’t help “The Machine” fighting with fans. In a recent post on his X account, the champion looked to give his account of what happened.

Dvalishvili shared a video of the encounter with a voiceover that claims that the fan wasn’t just a regular ticket buyer who insulted him but is in fact a friend of the likes of Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. The video shows what started the whole thing with the fan tapping Merab as he walks past him, talking to him whilst recording on his phone.

The video also shows several Instagram posts from Nurmagomedov, who will face Dvalishvili for the 135-pound title at UFC 311, from later that day of him and Makhachev being with and seemingly eating dinner with the fan. The same clip also shows older photos of the “fan” alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and the rest of the team, disputing the idea that Merab got into it with a member of the public who claims that Dvalishvili said something disrespectful about Shavkat Rakhmonov.

The Georgian has had several encounters with fans who provoked him in the past and at the press conference for the UFC’s upcoming PPV card in January, it was clear that the champion felt disrespected by Nurmagomedov and his team.

“More lies, disrespect, and deliberate provocations from Umar’s team. Here’s the real story …”

What’s Next After UFC 310? Full Confirmed UFC 311 Main Card For Los Angeles On Jan. 18

UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles. The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were […]

UFC 310 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

The promotion was in Las Vegas this past week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest major card in “Sin City.” Of note were headline wins for Alexandre Pantoja and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as important victories for Bryce Mitchell, Dominick Reyes, and Movsar Evloev.

While the aftermath of the Dec. 7 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the flyweight title picture to the lightweight championship conversation.

At UFC 311, set for the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, reigning kingpin Islam Makhachev will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 155-pound gold. After following his crowning against Charles Oliveira with retentions opposite Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, the Dagestani will next run it back with top contender Arman Tsarukyan.

Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his gold for the first time since winning it at the expense of Sean O’Malley. In his way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.

Procházka, Moicano, de Ridder, Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 311

Before Makhachev and Dvalishvili defend their belts, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 311 card.

That includes a pair of former light heavyweight champions in Ji?í Procházka and Jamahal Hill. After falling to the renowned power of reigning kingpin Alex Pereira this year, both will be looking to bounce back and reinsert themselves into the title picture at 205 pounds.

Prior to that, an important lightweight clash goes down. Fresh off a 3-0 run in 2024 and main event triumph over Benoît Saint Denis in Paris, Renato Moicano gets the chance to further climb the 155-pound ladder against veteran contender Beneil Dariush, who hasn’t competed since a knockout to Tsarukyan in December 2023.

And opening the UFC 311 main card will be promotional newcomer Reinier de Ridder. The former two-division ONE championship titleholder debuted this past November in a grueling clash with Gerald Meerschaert at the Apex. If he’s to move to 2-0 in the Octagon, the Dutchman must add to the woes of Kevin Holland, who most recently fell to an injury TKO loss opposite Roman Dolidze.

Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over ranked light heavyweights Johnny Walker and Bogdan Guskov, as well as a top 10 heavyweight bout between Jailton Almeida and Serghei Spivac.

See below for the full UFC 311 card, as it stands.

Main Card:

  • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
  • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
  • Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
  • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)

Preliminary Card:

  • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
  • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
  • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
  • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
  • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)
  • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
Jiri Prochazka
Image: Zuffa LLC/UFC

UFC 311 Press Conference Live Stream: Featuring Makhachev, Tsarukyan, Dvalishvili & Nurmagomedov

UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference. The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 […]

UFC 311 will kick off the promotion’s pay-per-view schedule for 2025, and MMA News has you covered with this week’s press conference.

The MMA leader has business to attend to in Las Vegas on Saturday night before focus turns to next year’s opening numbered event, but Friday will see attention briefly on the Jan. 18 card in Los Angeles before the UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Appearing on stage with mic in hand will be the four UFC 311 headliners — Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.

See below for a live stream of the UFC 311 presser via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 6 PM ET.

UFC 311, set to play out inside the Intuit Dome, will be headlined by Makhachev’s (26-1) fourth defense of the lightweight title. Since capturing it at the expense of Charles Oliveira in 2022, the Dagestani has turned away two challenges from featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski and one from Dustin Poirier.

Makhachev could now be set for his toughest test to date as he runs it back with the charging Tsarukyan (22-3). The Russian-Armenian secured his first shot at gold with a victory over Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April. And given how competitive his 2019 fight with the champ was, he’s confident of being the one to start a new chapter at 155 pounds.

There will also be title stakes in the co-main event, meanwhile, as Dvalishvili (18-4) puts his newly won bantamweight belt on the line for the first time. Four months on from unseating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside the Sphere, the Georgian is tasked with blemishing the perfect record of Nurmagomedov (18-0) if he’s to add a successful retention to his résumé.

A number of other intriguing matchups are scheduled for the stacked card. The current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

  • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
  • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
  • Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
  • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
  • Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
  • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
  • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
  • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
  • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
  • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
  • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)

Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov Official For UFC 311

The mixed martial arts leader is set to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 in style, having confirmed championship defenses for both Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 311. Octagon action will head to Los Angeles for the first numbered event of the new year, with the new Intuit Dome playing host to a […]

The mixed martial arts leader is set to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 in style, having confirmed championship defenses for both Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 311.

Octagon action will head to Los Angeles for the first numbered event of the new year, with the new Intuit Dome playing host to a lineup that already looks likely to be among the most stacked across the next 12 months.

And following additions like Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill and Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland, as well as returns for Jailton Almeida and Johnny Walker, a pair of blockbuster headliners are now official.

UFC CEO Dana White took to social media this week to confirm that the long-rumored rematch between Makhachev (26-1) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) for the lightweight gold will indeed headline the event on Jan. 18.

And despite his callout of other contenders, bantamweight king Dvalishvili (18-4) will put his belt on the line against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0), who looks to set the stage for his stablemate’s defense in the final fight of the night by adding to the team’s trophy cabinet.

Makhachev has recorded three defenses since defeating Charles Oliveira to achieve champ status. After back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, the Dagestani most recently turned back the challenge of Dustin Poirier. Makhachev is now set to run it back with a charging contender whom he narrowly outpointed back in 2019. Tsarukyan enters his first title shot riding momentum from a triumph over Oliveira at UFC 300.

Dvalishvili, meanwhile, will be making his first defense at UFC 311, five months on from his victory over Sean O’Malley at the Sphere. That result extended his winning run to 11 straight fights and followed success opposite former champions Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is yet to taste defeat inside the cage. The Russian most recently staked his claim for a championship opportunity by getting the better of the highly regarded Cory Sandhagen across five rounds in Abu Dhabi.

With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:

  • Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
  • Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
  • Ji?í Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
  • Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
  • Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
  • Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
  • Karol Rosa vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
  • Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas (middleweight)
  • Payton Talbott vs. Raoni Barcelos (bantamweight)
  • Grant Dawson vs. Diego Ferreira (lightweight)
  • Ricky Turcios vs. Benardo Sopaj (bantamweight)

Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O’Malley appears to have nothing in his crosshairs except redemption opposite UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili next year. O’Malley was thrust off the throne in emphatic fashion by Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September, bringing an end to his reign in its second defense. “Sugar” subsequently […]

Sean O’Malley appears to have nothing in his crosshairs except redemption opposite UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili next year.

O’Malley was thrust off the throne in emphatic fashion by Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September, bringing an end to his reign in its second defense.

“Sugar” subsequently headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum and is targeting a return in the first or second quarter of 2025. And he was recently called out by a familiar foe for his comeback fight.

“I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregnant.”

Yan’s comments come after he made it two wins from two in 2024 by outpointing Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. While he’s gone back and forth with Dvalishvili over a rematch for the title, Umar Nurmagomedov is widely seen as the deserving next in line at 135 pounds.

With that in mind, the Russian may need to look elsewhere for his next assignment. And judging by O’Malley’s reaction to his request for a redo, his door has been firmly shut for “No Mercy.”

“I predict it will be early Q2. Against Merab. Thanks for asking,” O’Malley wrote in his response on X.

O’Malley has repeatedly outlined his intention to return straight into a shot at avenging his decision defeat to “The Machine.”

With the timeline for Nurmagomedov’s expected maiden title opportunity still uncertain as the year approaches its conclusion, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for both O’Malley and Yan in 2025.