Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili Uses ‘Bully’ Petr Yan Example To Explain Dislike Of Russia

Merab Dvalishvili recently referenced Petr Yan as an example to articulate his disdain for Russia as a nation. Earlier this month, in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dvalishivili showcased his superiority over Sean O’Malley with relentless grappling and punishing ground control to become the new UFC […]

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Merab Dvalishvili recently referenced Petr Yan as an example to articulate his disdain for Russia as a nation.

Earlier this month, in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dvalishivili showcased his superiority over Sean O’Malley with relentless grappling and punishing ground control to become the new UFC bantamweight champion.

Despite his energetic persona, “The Machine” typically avoids the harsh trash talk that often surrounds UFC fighters. But in his pursuit of a title shot against “Suga”, Dvalishvili created a series of humorous skits, playfully mocking the former champion to help bring the fight to fruition.

When Dvalishvili faced Petr Yan in March 2023, his typically composed demeanor cracked, revealing fiery emotions as he fiercely condemned the Russian regime and voiced his deep resentment over its aggressive military occupations of neighboring countries over the years.

Dvalishvili Blames Russian Occupation Of Georgia For His Loathing Of The Country

During a recent interview with former UFC welterweight Jake Shields, Dvalishvili candidly discussed his deep-seated contempt for the Russian state. “The Machine” revealed that his animosity toward Yan was fueled by a larger resentment toward Russia, a nation that has repeatedly waged war against his homeland of Georgia over territorial conflicts, resulting in significant casualties.

“Petr Yan, he’s from Russia; he’s a bully,” Dvalishvili said. “[I don’t hate] Russian people. It’s the country because they are corrupt, and Russia occupied my country—20% of Georgia. They are my enemies. You know, when they come, of course, we treat them as guests, no problem. Of course, they love our food, they love our hospitality, but they throw bombs in the city and kill people. And we are a small country, so we ask, ‘Why are you killing us?’ I’m saying, let’s just be friends with everybody.”

Dvalishvili went on to share that at just 17 years old; he witnessed the devastation of the Russo-Georgian War in August 2008. The brutal conflict claimed the lives of many of his close friends and relatives as Russian bombs rained down on Tbilisi.

“In 1991, when they took Abkhazia, and then the second time, I was 17 in 2008, they occupied Ossetia, and so many people lost their homes. We lost so many people, and they threw bombs in the capital city.”

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John McCarthy: Merab Dvalishvili Could Have Lost Points For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ At UFC 306

According to former referee John McCarthy, Herb Dean would have been well within his rights to penalize UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili for his actions against Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili secured his long-awaited crowning moment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at this month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view. The Georgian topped the lineup, staged inside […]

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According to former referee John McCarthy, Herb Dean would have been well within his rights to penalize UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili for his actions against Sean O’Malley.

Dvalishvili secured his long-awaited crowning moment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at this month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view. The Georgian topped the lineup, staged inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, in competition for O’Malley’s title.

While “Suga” was able to find the fight-ending blow against Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling last year to capture the gold, that wasn’t the case on September 14.

Instead, “The Machine” used his renowned gas tank and grappling abilities to earn the nod on all three scorecards. But while there was little debate over the decision, there’s been plenty of discussion surrounding other aspects of the fight.

In addition to a verbal altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s coach in the opening moments of round one, the second stanza came to a close with controversy after the Georgian used his dominant position to repeatedly kiss the champ’s back.

The moment almost ended in disaster for Dvalishvili, who took the referee’s calls to stop as the end of the round and turned his back on O’Malley with seconds remaining, leading to him eating a strike.

But according to McCarthy, Dvalishvili would have faced further consequences had he been officiating the UFC 306 main event…

McCarthy Recalls Docking Fighter 2 Points For Kissing Opponent In Light Of UFC 306 Moment

During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside former Strikeforce and UFC fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy looked back on how Dean officiated the September 14 main event in Las Vegas.

On the topic of Dvalishvili’s back kisses toward the end of round two, McCarthy recalled how he dealt with a similar situation during his days as an active referee.

“I’ve been in this position where I had a fighter kiss another fighter. You look and you go…’What the f*ck did you just do?’ It takes you a second to realize, ‘You just f*cking kissed him!’ Then it’s a matter of how you are going to deal with it,” McCarthy said. “I took two points from him. You want to do something that is absolutely not part of our sport, nobody asked you to do it, nobody wants you to do it, and you want to be cute? Congratulations, you better go finish the fight now. I can disqualify you if I want.

“When that happened, Herb was caught off guard, let’s just be honest,” McCarthy continued. “He should have either made a decisive, ‘Stop! Time, you get over there, you get over there,’ and do something about what just occurred. If he wants to give him a hard warning over it, that’s fine. If he wants to take points, take points for unsportsmanlike conduct, that’s fine. But he got caught in the middle of it.”

O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, have since given their own verdict on the moment, suggesting that had the referee kept completely out of the way, “Suga” could have launched a potentially fight-ending head kick from behind.

Alas, that wasn’t to be, and Dvalishvili instead ground out a convincing victory on the scorecards. But with some referees evidently favoring stern punishment for his actions inside the Sphere, perhaps he’ll be a little less keen to place his lips on his next opponent.

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Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik thinks one recent revelation may have boosted the UFC’s spirits following the unseating of Sean O’Malley from the bantamweight throne. O’Malley’s reign came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili earlier this month when the pair headlined the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere. The […]

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Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik thinks one recent revelation may have boosted the UFC’s spirits following the unseating of Sean O’Malley from the bantamweight throne.

O’Malley’s reign came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili earlier this month when the pair headlined the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.

The Georgian challenger closed out the Mexican Independence Day celebration by utilizing his renowned cardio and grappling prowess en route to a convincing unanimous decision triumph over “Suga.”

That result saw O’Malley’s divisional rule end in his second defense, six months on from his first opposite Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami. In the eyes of some, “The Machine” played spoiler for the UFC’s plan to ascend O’Malley to superstar status.

Anik, however, has explained why the organization may not be as down on the Montana native’s loss as many would expect…

Anik: UFC Avoided Possible Interim Title Scenario With O’Malley Defeat

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Anik reflected on the UFC’s debut event inside the Sphere on September 14, paying particular attention to the result that closed out the show.

Anik appeared to acknowledge that Dvalishvili’s win was perhaps not the outcome favored by the promotion at the time. But with the revelation regarding “Suga’s” injury — a torn labrum that requires surgery — the commentator suggested that the title changing hands could be a blessing in disguise for the UFC.

“I think the good news if you’re looking for a silver lining for the UFC is that had Sean won this fight, maybe this hip injury would have had to be repaired anyway, right?” Anik said. “And then you wonder if you need an interim champion. So I think right now, your new champion is pretty durable and willing to take on all challengers.

“And a murderers’ row, of course, awaits Sean O’Malley with the Cory Sandhagens of all the world and everybody else,” Anik continued. “There are a lot of dream-type matchups at ’35 for fight fans, right? Even Sean O’Malley and Dominick Cruz makes some semblance of sense right now. So there’s a lot of different fights at ’35 that make a lot of sense.”

It remains to be seen when O’Malley will have his chance to bounce back inside the cage, with the former champ himself giving timelines ranging from eight months to a full one-year layoff.

But throughout his stint on the sidelines, it would appear that fans are set to see plenty more social media posts claiming victory over Dvalishvili — and alongside that, plenty of X community notes…

Continue Reading Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili Forced to Work Day Job Due to Paltry UFC Fighter Pay

Merab DvalishviliUFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili had to work a second job up until 2020 due to him barely making…

Merab Dvalishvili

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili had to work a second job up until 2020 due to him barely making financial ends meet.

Dvalishvili earned the UFC bantamweight title by defeating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. He used his wrestling and timely striking to frustrate O’Malley through five rounds.

Merab Dvalishvili

Dvalishvili’s road to the top of the UFC bantamweight division wasn’t easy. A 2017 UFC debutant, Dvalishvili lost his first two fights to Ricky Simon and Frankie Saenz and appeared on the cusp of being a roster cut.

As Dvalishvili began his ongoing winning streak, he had to work construction jobs to make a sustainable financial living. Fighter pay is a hot-button issue in combat sports, particularly for Dvalishvili and others working their way up the hierarchy.

Merab Dvalishvili quit construction job in 2020

During a recent appearance on the Fight Back podcast, Dvalishvili revealed his path to a sustainable wage as a fighter.

“2020, when COVID hit,” Dvalishvili said. “Yeah, I was in UFC. So, I lost my first fight in UFC and we know how UFC pay, $10,000, and you still have to pay manager, some expenses, and I buy car, I was driving a very old car and then no money…

“Second fight, I got bonus, and I stopped working,” Dvalishvili continued. “But when my next fight comes I was broke again because I spent all this money and I’m like, now what? When I win the next one, I keep the money and start working because I don’t want this to happen again.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

Luckily for Dvalishvili, he’ll likely never have to pick up odd jobs to be financially stress-free again. As he prepares for his first title defense, Dvalishvili has a huge weight off of his shoulders.

Merab

Umar Nurmagomedov Not Interested in Waiting Until Next Year to Fight Merab Dvalishvili

Umar Nurmagomedov Merab DvalishviliUmar Nurmagomedov is itching to stay active, even if it means potentially missing a title fight opportunity against the…

Umar Nurmagomedov Merab Dvalishvili

Umar Nurmagomedov is itching to stay active, even if it means potentially missing a title fight opportunity against the newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili.

After defeating ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, UFC announcer and media icon Joe Rogan attempted to get a firm answer from Dvalishvili on whether he would defend his title against Nurmagomedov. The Nurmagomedov clan was sitting ringside, and even the UFC cameras theatrically panned over to him as the question was asked.

However, the new champ wouldn’t allow himself to be directed. He sidestepped the question and instead just spoke on his journey to becoming a champion, highlighting that he is now living his dream.

Umar Nurmagomedov is not eager to wait for a title shot

With a phenomenal record of 18-0, including six victories in the UFC, it is a no-brainer why the UFC would like to fast-track Umar Nurmagomedov to a title shot. That does not even include the legacy behind the Nurmagomedov name and how mega-popular the family is in Russia and Middle Eastern markets.

So, for Dana White and his UFC matchmakers, the fight makes perfect sense on paper. The two fighters even utilize very similar styles, making the fight an intriguing clash. However, waiting around and hoping does not sit well with young Umar Nurmagomedov.

umar 1600x900 1 1

Speaking with Gorilla Energy, Nurmagomedov made it very clear as to what his intentions will be for the near future. “I don’t want to wait until next year; I want to fight,” Nurmagomedov told Gorilla Energy (H/T Sherdog). “Anyone, even if it’s King Kong — let them make weight and we’ll fight. I really don’t care. I don’t want to wait for these guys. I have my own goal. I’m going to be the greatest, so I have to be active!”

Who do you think would win in a fight between Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili?

Merab Dvalishvili Explains Why He Questioned Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov & Other Fighters Representing Russia

Merab Dvalishvili has won tons of fans with his unhinged social media personality. Ahead of his fight with Sean O’Malley, “The Machine” released several skits mocking the champ and they’ve aged like fine wine now that he’s champion. Similarly, Dvalishvili has repeatedly spoken his mind on Umar Nurmagomedov getting a title shot after just one […]

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Merab Dvalishvili has won tons of fans with his unhinged social media personality. Ahead of his fight with Sean O’Malley, “The Machine” released several skits mocking the champ and they’ve aged like fine wine now that he’s champion.

Similarly, Dvalishvili has repeatedly spoken his mind on Umar Nurmagomedov getting a title shot after just one win over a ranked UFC bantamweight. His rivalry with the undefeated prospect has taken a new turn since he questioned the latter representing Russia.

Dvalishvili recently explained the history of Georgia in detail and why he’s not a big fan of many fighters representing Russia.

Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Why He Doesn’t Consider Umar Nurmagomedov, Khabib, Islam Makhachev, And Other ‘Caucasian’ Fighters Russian

In a recent episode of the Fight Back podcast hosted by Jake Shields on YouTube, Dvalishvili discussed the history of Georgia. He told Shields about Russia still occupying 20% of Georgia and looked back at the terrors of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.

Dvalishvili didn’t hide his understandable animosity toward the Russian government as he witnessed several war crimes as a teenager. However, he admitted to not having the same feelings for Russian citizens who’ve always appreciated Georgia’s hospitality as well.

The UFC bantamweight kingpin then reiterated that the following UFC fighters represent Russia but they technically belong to different independent nations:

  • Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Umar Nurmagomedov come from Dagestan.
  • Khamzat Chimaev belongs to Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
  • Movsar Evloev hails from Ingushetia.

“They are all on, I mean, it’s not independent country but all different countries. They are Muslim people, they have own culture, own tradition. That people, we call them Caucasian people, like because we have Caucas mountains. So, we are this side, they are other side. And then, but now, so like, I’m not going to say occupied but yeah somehow the Russia take over those countries and they have to ‘represent’ Russia. So, and I say, when somebody asked me Umar is from Russia, that’s why you don’t…I said, no, Umar not from Russia. He’s from Dagestan.”

Dvalishvili made sure to point out that he understands the aforementioned fighters choosing to represent Russia for political, personal, or any other reasons. It’ll be interesting to see whether these remarks will add to the intensity of his rivalry with Nurmagomedov, though.

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