Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Scared’ Umar Nurmagomedov ‘doesn’t deserve to fight me’
Merab Dvalishvili still believes Sean O’Malley deserves a rematch before Umar Nurmagomedov gets his chance to fight for UFC gold.
Dvalishvili captured the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over O’Malley at UFC 306 in September. Following the win, it appeared the surging Nurmagomedov would be next in line after his dominant win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, but reports have circulated that Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong are in talks for a bout. Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting recently that, as of now, the fight is not a done deal.
At Friday’s UFC 308 fan Q&A, Dvalishvili was asked by a fan why he’s afraid to face Nurmagomedov, and leaning more towards a rematch with O’Malley.
“Let’s boo to this guy,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m not scared of no one, only God.
“Where is this guy? He’s taking [another] fight. He’s scared. He’s fighting somebody else. Where is [he]? Where is [he]? Tell me. He wants to get knocked out by somebody else, and then he’s going to make excuse. He’s not going to make this fight. I’m not making fight. Dana White and Hunter [Campbell] make decision [for] who I’m going to fight next. I don’t know. I don’t make decision. I never make decision.”
So what will ultimately be next for the new bantamweight champion? Dvalishvili says he’ll let the UFC brass make the determination. But if it were his call, “The Machine” says O’Malley should be the rightful foe, as Nurmagomedov has more to show before getting his opportunity.
“If Dana White tells me I have to fight Umar, I’m fighting Umar, OK?,’ Dvalishvili said. “But, you know what? Umar doesn’t deserve to fight me. Sean O’Malley deserves to fight me, and I’m going to rematch him. He deserves it, and after, Umar has to prove [himself], and I will fight him.”