Should something force bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili out of UFC 311, challenger Umar Nurmagomedov would not be the least bit shocked.
The undefeated Dagestani is set to mark the first threat to the Georgian’s reign this year after his crowning at the expense of Sean O’Malley last September.
They’ll co-headline the opening pay-per-view event of 2025, UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Top spot on the lineup has fallen to Nurmagomedov’s teammate, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, and his rematch with Arman Tsarukyan.
But according to the surging bantamweight, it would come as a surprise to nobody if he ended up watching proceedings from the audience instead of competing on the night.
During a recent interview uploaded to the UFC’s YouTube channel, Nurmagomedov assessed the likelihood of Dvalishvili withdrawing.
“I will not be surprised and nobody will be surprised. Even right now, I saw like commentary on Twitter, they said he will pull out, but he never pulled out before. I hope he will not and the fight is going to happen,” Nurmagomedov said.
Dvalishvili was vocal in expressing displeasure at having to face Nurmagomedov for his first defense. “The Machine” branded the Russian undeserving of the shot and pitched numerous other opponents.
Nevertheless, the titleholder has remained confident of getting the job done and emerging from the heated rivalry with the gold still in his possession.
But the Georgian won’t have long to celebrate the start of a fresh year before getting back to work inside the cage. He’s slated to co-headline the very first pay-per-view of 2025, defending his belt against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
During a recent interview uploaded to the UFC Espanol YouTube channel, Dvalishvili outlined his target of four defenses this calendar year, including three in the first two quarters.
“I want to win this fight and I want to be busy in 2025,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m fighting early this year, Jan. 18, and I just want to be busy. I know (Sean) O’Malley wants to come back in April. I think Petr (Yan) will be ready in March. So maybe fight Petr in March, rematch (O’Malley) in April, and whoever will be the next contender (after that), I will take. I will clean the division again.”
O’Malley, meanwhile, headed for the operating room to repair a torn labrum in the aftermath of his decision loss to Dvalishvili a few months back. He’s made clear his plan to secure redemption against the Georgian upon his recovery.
It seems the UFC is taking the growing feud between upcoming opponents Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov very seriously.
Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov are set to collide at the first pay-per-view of the new year, with the pair marking one of two championship fights scheduled for UFC 311 on Jan. 18.
Much to his dismay, the Georgian is tasked with stalling the charge of the undefeated Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili has been vocal in dismissing the Dagestani’s title shot worthiness, and that topic has caused considerable animosity between the pair.
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) December 23, 2024
“It’s all good – this guy will get what is coming to him on January 18th,” Dvalishvili wrote in the caption of a video on X, during which the Georgian explained how he’d been turned away from the UFC Performance Institute due to Nurmagomedov’s presence inside.
Regardless, the champ won’t have too much longer to wait before having the chance to lay hands on the unbeaten Russian inside the cage.
Aljamain Sterling believes UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili is being rushed into defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, scheduled for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight belt in September at UFC 306 and had hoped to take some time off before his next fight. However, the UFC decided to book this title bout on short notice, sparking criticism from the Georgian’s friend and teammate Sterling, who feels the timeline is unfair.
“This fight is being made on six weeks’ notice? Maybe six-and-a-half,” Sterling said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “For a title fight? I understand having to do that if you’re a challenger, but as a champion, you shouldn’t be relegated to those types of stipulations. It’s just not right.”
Sterling elaborated on the frustration of being in such a position.
“It leaves a bad taste in your mouth, as in, ‘Why did I work so hard to get to this position, to call the shots — or some of the shots — and you’re not even getting a fair shake in it?’ Hopefully, we go out there — knock on wood — Merab does his thing, he takes [Nurmagomedov’s] 0, puts on a great performance, and we can move on from this to the next.”
Sterling is no stranger to this situation.
After defeating Henry Cejudo to retain the bantamweight title at UFC 288, he was forced to defend it just three months later against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. “Funk Master” lost the fight via knockout, a result that still looms large in his mind as he defends Dvalishvili’s predicament.
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will be backing his most recent opponent when champion Merab Dvalishvili’s first title defense rolls around next month.
Dvalishvili will put his 135-pound gold on the line four months on from his crowning, which came at the expense of Sean O’Malley inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere this past September.
If he’s to maintain his grip on the bantamweight belt and add a successful retention to his reign, “The Machine” must become the first to defeat Nurmagomedov — a feat that the highly regarded Sandhagen most recently failed to accomplish.
During a recent interview with MiddleEasy, Sandhagen assessed Dvalishvili’s chances of having his hand raised inside the Intuit Dome early next year.
“The Sandman” was honest in stating that he simply doesn’t see a single path to victory for the current champ. And beyond just his prediction, Sandhagen is actually hoping to see Dvalishvili beaten given how the Georgian’s been talking in recent weeks and months.
“I think that Umar will win. I just can’t see a path for Merab to win,” Sandhagen said. “I don’t think that he’s going to be able to strike with him, but I also don’t think he’ll be able to take him down and control him like he was able to do against O’Malley and against other guys. I don’t see a path to success for Merab.
“I think Umar is going to defend those shots, keep it in the striking realm, and just kind of — Umar’s a sniper, man. People don’t realize just how fast that guy is and how his kicks come out of nowhere,” Sandhagen continued. “Fighting a guy like Merab will be a good opportunity for him to show off a little, and just because Merab’s been talking a lot of sh*t, I kinda want to watch Merab get served up a little bit.”
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is planning to guide a prominent member of his team to title glory at the expense of a riled-up Merab Dvalishvili next month.
Dvalishvili has his first defense of the bantamweight title in the calendar, coming four months on from his crowning against Sean O’Malley at the Sphere this past September.
To cement his grip on the crown, the Georgian is tasked with pushing away a challenge from undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of the legendary Khabib.
“The Machine” had been vocal in attempting to dismiss Nurmagomedov’s title claims, branding the Dagestani unworthy of the opportunity despite his five-round triumph over Cory Sandhagen last time out.
During an interview posted by Red Corner MMA on Instagram, Khabib assessed Dvalishvili’s ongoing fury about his cousin being granted a first championship opportunity, questioning whether the Georgian is cut out to occupy a throne on MMA’s biggest stage.
“I think when (Dvalishvili was) beginning his career, he was acting good. When he became champion, he cannot deal with this,” Khabib said. “Because life changing. Before champion and after champion, there is two (lives). You have to deal with this.
“About Umar (getting a) gift — I think Umar deserves (it). I don’t know why Merab (is) nervous,” Khabib continued. “Umar’s here not because he is my cousin. He’s here because he’s 18-0 and 6-0 in the UFC. Umar wants to create his legacy. January 18, he will show why Merab (is) nervous.”
Should Khabib and his team have their way in Los Angeles, Dvalishvili will return to life as a contender soon enough.
But “The Machine” is hell bent on proving his view of Nurmagomedov correct come fight night early next year by emphatically stalling the Russian’s title ambitions in their tracks.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has been involved in several altercations with fans in recent times. The latest instance came this past weekend at UFC 310 where a video showed him being separated away from a member of the crowd when he was walking to the back with his teammate, Aljamain Sterling.
Dvalishvili has since shared a video on social media which suggests that the fan was a friend of Umar Nurmagomedov, who he will face at UFC 311 in his first title defense. This additional footage shows how the person grabbed him which kicked off the series of events that led to UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja trading punches with the man.
Buzukja later explained that the fan had also been trying to antagonize the 135-pound titleholder on their way to the Octagon for Sterling’s contest against Movsar Evloev. One former member of the roster is able to specifically relate to this kind of situation given his own interactions with fans in the past.
During the walk out for his fight against Demian Maia in Brazil back in 2016, Matt Brown was grabbed and hit by several people in the audience which led to him hitting back.
In a recent episode of MMA Fighting’s Fighter vs. Writer, Brown reflected on this experience and stood by Dvalishvili for his response to being provoked.
“I still say these fans, keep to your f*cking self, bro. You don’t f*ck with professional fighters. Most of us are martial artists that are respectful and stuff, but we’re also human beings and we’ll rip your f*cking throat out. Don’t f*ck with us. It’s stupid.
“You can’t grab a professional. Someone touches me, I’m f*cking them up.”
Brown also said that in the aftermath of his incident in Brazil, he wasn’t penalized for the altercation and the UFC looked to make changes to stop this kind of thing from happening.
“I remember Dana [White] changed things after that,” Brown said. “I don’t know what exactly the changes were but basically talking about separating the fans a little bit more, particularly in Brazil, maybe having a little bit better security when guys are walking out. I was right there in touching range, and they were hitting me and pulling my hat off.
“I’m not just going to sit here and take this, plus I’m completely fired up ready to walk into a fight. You get hit, it’s a natural reaction — you hit someone back.”
The tension between UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov shows no sign of decreasing ahead of their upcoming title fight.
Dvalishvili recently had his first defense since capturing the 135-pound crown at the expense of Sean O’Malley added to the calendar. Four months on from his triumph inside the Sphere, the Georgian will head to Los Angeles to do battle with an undefeated contender.
“The Machine” is set to co-headline next month’s year-opening UFC 311 pay-per-view opposite Nurmagomedov, who has gotten his wish to compete for the gold despite the champ previously dismissing his worthiness when it came to a championship opportunity.
That much was evident when the pair almost came to blows backstage at last week’s UFC 311 press conference in Las Vegas before trading verbal barbs on stage.
And during an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Dvalishvili further addressed his growing disdain for his challenger. He stated that Nurmagomedov needs to say sorry for what he perceived as disrespect or he would be getting “slapped,” even if it means the Georgian heading to Dagestan or facing consequences such as prison.
“If you come to my face and if you disrespect me, you’re going to get slapped,” Dvalishvili said. “Don’t try that because I’m a man and I will never forgive you, even if I have to go to jail. I don’t care, man. I have so much to lose. I don’t care [about] this belt, I don’t care [about] this money, I don’t care [about] this legacy. I’m a man, I live in a respectful way, and that’s all I believe.
“Especially now I’m a U S. citizen, I can f***ing fight, beat the s*** out of these motherf***ers and I have no problem to pay the bill, ticket, or go to jail. Because I don’t care. Don’t disrespect me,” Dvalishvili continued. “He may get a slap after the fight. … The fight in the Octagon is not a real fight, it’s a sport. Yeah, [the fight will continue] if Umar does not apologize. … It’s going to happen, even if I have to go in Dagestan, I will go.”
It remains to be seen whether Dvalishvili will deliver on that threat, but the Georgian’s frequent altercations with fans at events — the most recent of which happened just this past weekend at UFC 310 — suggests “The Machine” won’t hold bak outside of the cage if he feels disrespected.
Regardless, it’s safe to say that the build-up toward their collision at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 18 will continue to be a heated one.
More lies, disrespect, and deliberate provocations from Umar’s team. Here’s the real story … pic.twitter.com/btwTzJrC0D
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) December 8, 2024
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.
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.”
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 …”
More lies, disrespect, and deliberate provocations from Umar’s team. Here’s the real story … pic.twitter.com/btwTzJrC0D
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) December 8, 2024
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.
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)
Jiří 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)
Fight fans — and even UFC CEO Dana White — are drawing comparisons between former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and current bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili, albeit with a twist.
Dvalishvili is being dubbed the “mini-Strickland,” but “without the mouth,” according to White.
The Georgian is set to make his first title defense against undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025. However, his antics outside the octagon are grabbing the headlines.
At UFC 310 on Saturday night, Dvalishvili was involved in an altercation with a fan after cornering Aljamain Sterling for his bout against Movsar Evloev. Security stepped in to separate “The Machine” from the fan, but the situation escalated when the fan began exchanging punches with another member of Sterling’s coaching team, UFC featherweight Dennis Buzukja.
Addressing the incident during the UFC 310 post-fight press conference, White expressed both exasperation and resignation.
“He’s my mini-Strickland — without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili. “What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. You can’t keep fighting with f*cking fans. You can do it, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money. I say it all the time: we’re in the f*cking fight business. This happens. We’ve got to deal with it.”
This isn’t Dvalishvili’s first clash with fans. In August, he confronted a heckler during the Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas, climbing into the audience to address the situation.
At the UFC 311 on-sale press conference this week, White admitted he had to keep an eye on Dvalishvili after noticing another fan taunting him from the crowd.
The tension was palpable at the UFC 311 on-sale press conference on Friday, as UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and challenger Umar Nurmagomedov exchanged fiery words ahead of their upcoming title clash.
Dvalishvili, who captured the 135-pound title with a unanimous decision victory over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, is set to defend his belt against Nurmagomedov, who earned the shot with a dominant win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi. However, the Georgian has made it clear that he doesn’t believe his opponent truly deserves the opportunity.
“You’re a good fighter, but not a good man,” Dvalishvili said, calling out Nurmagomedov for comments he made online. “You lost respect as a man for me. Real men don’t talk trash online. Be a man first. You’re a piece of sh*t.”
Nurmagomedov, unfazed by the champion’s remarks, pushed back, claiming he has only spoken the truth and accusing Dvalishvili of avoiding the fight.
“I’ve only stated facts,” Nurmagomedov countered, standing his ground during the heated exchange.
The growing animosity between the two fighters sets the stage for what promises to be an electrifying title bout at UFC 311.
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.
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)
Jiří 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)
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.
And following additions like Jiří 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)
Jiří 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)
“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.
Merab Dvalishvili is expecting a strong performance from his teammate Aljamain Sterling, as the former UFC bantamweight champion gears up for his second outing as a featherweight.
Following the end of his reign at 135 pounds last year — and after having his calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley fall on deaf ears — Sterling committed to a long-discussed move up in weight.
And he debuted at 145 pounds in convincing fashion, comfortably outpointing veteran ranked contender Calvin Kattar across three rounds at UFC 300 in Las Vegas this past April.
After arriving in the featherweight top 10, Sterling’s sophomore appearance in the division at UFC 310 will come against an undefeated contender inside the top five, Russia’s Movsar Evloev.
Although he’ll enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, Sterling’s team is unsurprisingly confident of an upset.
During a video recently uploaded to Sterling’s YouTube channel, Dvalishvili spoke about “Funk Master’s” upcoming return, having once again been a part of the 35-year-old’s training camp.
The reigning bantamweight kingpin admitted struggling to hang with the featherweight contender on the mats. And with that in mind, he foresees Sterling ‘smashing’ the undefeated Evloev.
“Aljo feels really strong,” Dvalishvili said. “Now he did a bunch of rounds of jiu-jitsu too. He did two rounds with me. I couldn’t do anything. He was on top of me, controlled me, smashed me. That means that Aljo is going to smash his opponent – even though his opponent is really good.
“I have so much respect for Movsar Evloev, but that’s how the fight game is. The stronger guy wins,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’m very comfortable with Aljo because he’s focused and he feels really strong.”
Sterling will hope to prove Dvalishvili’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where he’ll look to move past his disappointment at being placed on the prelims and deliver a statement-making performance at the expense of Evloev.
And should he succeed in that goal, a shot at Ilia Topuria’s featherweight gold and two-division glory could await the New York native in 2025.
Aljamain Sterling has voiced his opinion regarding UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili’s decision to reject a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov.
This follows Dvalishvili’s call for a rematch against Petr Yan after the Russian’s recent victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau. The proposed bout with Yan has history behind it, as the Georgian previously secured a decision win over him.
The champion has dismissed Nurmagomedov’s claim to a title shot, arguing that his single win over a ranked contender, Cory Sandhagen, is insufficient to warrant a championship opportunity. Sterling has come forward to support his friend and teammate’s stance, refuting claims that the champ is ‘scared’ of Nurmagomedov.
“Some people actually think he’s afraid, which is actually hilarious,” Sterling commented. “From what I understand when we talk, Merab is just standing on business. Like, ‘Bro, you haven’t done anything, and I’m supposed to be busting my ass over here?’
“’I’m from the same area as you, in relation to the Caucasus Mountains, and I had to come here and bust my ass just to get a title shot. And you’re going to get it off of one win? And I had to fight all these contenders.’ That’s crazy.”
Sterling believes Yan’s record, which includes multiple accolades and high-profile opponents, makes him a more deserving contender for the next title shot.
He argues that the competitive road Yan has traveled adds weight to his claim, reinforcing Dvalishvili’s decision to prioritize him over Nurmagomedov.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley hasn’t been impressed with the actions of Merab Dvalishvili since he ascended to the throne this past September.
In attendance was Umar Nurmagomedov, the consensus number one contender who staked his claim for a shot against the Noche UFC main event winner when he defeated Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi the previous month.
But the Dagestani hasn’t been getting a positive response from the champ ever since, with “The Machine” instead first branding Deiveson Figueiredo a more worthy challenger before pitching dates to run it back with both O’Malley and Petr Yan.
During a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow alongside coach Tim Welch, O’Malley joined plenty in calling out Dvalishvili’s push to once again face Yan, whom he convincingly defeated across five rounds in March 2023.
“Sugar” echoed the sentiments of Nurmagomedov himself, branding the newly crowned bantamweight kingpin “terrified” of him.
“Umar wants to fight Merab in January. Petr wants to fight Merab in March. I want to fight Merab in April,” O’Malley said. “Merab is absolutely sh*tting himself terrified of Umar. He doesn’t want to fight Umar. Now he’s saying he wants to fight Petr. He wanted to fight me. Petr got 50-45’d to Merab.”
Petr Yan made a statement at UFC Macau, defeating Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event before calling for a rematch with current UFC Bantamweight hampion Merab Dvalishvili.
Yan won a five-round decision, sweeping the scorecards against the ex-UFC flyweight champion. He then mentioned wanting a rematch with Dvalishvili and an opportunity to regain the bantamweight gold during his post-fight interview.
“Before my fight, Merab [said] Deiveson Figueiredo [was the] No. 1 contender who deserved title fight,” Yan said. “Merab, what do you say now when I beat [the] No. 1 contender in my division? I want to do [a] rematch with Merab. Let’s get it.”
Dvalishvili heard Yan’s callout and responded on social media, starting with praise of the UFC Macau main event and the Russian’s performance before expressing interest in the pair facing off at UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) November 23, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili Open To Rematch With Petr Yan, Perhaps As Soon As UFC 313
Dvalishvili and Yan met in the main event of UFC Las Vegas in March 2023, with the Georgian standout taking a five-round unanimous decision.
That fight marked Yan’s third straight loss and fourth defeat in five fights, stemming back to him controversially dropping the bantamweight championship via disqualification to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259.
“No Mercy” has since won a pair of fights in 2024, defeating Song Yadong at UFC 299 before his win over Figueiredo in Macau. Yan put on a striking clinic against “Deus Da Guerra,” and he even showed control on the ground the majority of the time he grappled with Figueiredo on the mat.
Dvalishvili, following the win over Yan, went on to defeat Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 before scoring a decision over Sean O’Malley to capture the bantamweight championship at UFC 306 (Noche UFC).
Merab Dvalishvili is making it clear that he believes Sean O’Malley deserves a rematch with him before Umar Nurmagomedov gets a title shot.
Dvalishvili won the bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over O’Malley at UFC 306, and although Nurmagomedov initially appeared to be next in line after his dominant win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, Dvalishvili has other ideas. Recent reports suggest that Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong are in talks for a potential showdown, though MMA Fighting reports the deal has yet to be finalized.
Proving Time
During a fan Q&A at UFC 308, Dvalishvili responded to questions about his intentions, refuting any notion that he’s avoiding a fight with Nurmagomedov in favor of an O’Malley rematch.
“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 excuses. He’s not going to make this fight. I’m not the one making fights; Dana White and Hunter [Campbell] decide who I fight next. I don’t make that decision,” Dvalishvili explained.
He continued, “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 a rematch, and I’m ready to fight him again. After that, Umar will have to prove himself, and I’ll be ready.”
The Georgian standout made good on his prediction to dominate, securing a comfortable victory on the scorecards after five rounds of action at the Mexican Independence Day celebration.
But no sooner had the bantamweight gold been wrapped around his waist, talk turned to the first hurdle for Dvalishvili to overcome as kingpin. For most, that should be the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. “The Machine,” however, caused eyebrows to raise when he called O’Malley out for an immediate rematch.
During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Dvalishvili sought to clear up his stance.
The Georgian titleholder insisted that he has no issue meeting the challenge of Nurmagomedov and would be willing to in February.
“Yes, the UFC told me to fight (Nurmagomedov in December) and I said I would fight him in February or March,” Dvalishvili said. “That was it. Now, Umar take another fight, so I don’t know. But like I said, I don’t know anything else. (I won’t fight) in January because it’s a new year and it’s Georgian Christmas and I need the time. I said February and March is good for me, and I’ll go from there.
“Like I said, I want three fights in 2025. So, I’m ready. I have no problem (fighting Nurmagomedov next). Whoever the UFC offers me, I will fight. I never choose my opponents, and I’m going to continue the same,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’ve never had the option to say, ‘I’m going to fight him, or him.’ I was never like this in this situation before, and I don’t see why it’d be different now.”
But Nurmagomedov evidently isn’t buying it.
After Dvalishvili’s teammate, former champ Aljamain Sterling, took to social media to defend the Georgian’s willingness to return sooner if his opposition was Sean O’Malley, Nurmagomedov branded his remarks a “cheap excuse.”
Six months on from an emphatic five-round display to exact revenge on Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami, “Sugar” had a more difficult 25-minute experience when sharing the Octagon with Dvalishvili.
In the aftermath of the result, O’Malley revealed a long spell on the sidelines awaited him, having fought through a torn labrum at UFC 306.
O’Malley Doesn’t Regret Fighting Through Injury, Expects To ‘Whoop’ Dvalishvili In Rematch
During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, O’Malley reflected on the disappointing end to his short title reign in Las Vegas last month.
In terms of the injury he competed with, “Sugar” insisted that withdrawing and delaying his second defense was not a possibility, partly down to his confidence when it came to having superiority over “The Machine.”
“I had a torn labrum. 10 weeks before the fight, I f*cking snapped my labrum. It is what it is. … It was unfortunate,” O’Malley said. “No, (I didn’t consider pulling out). UFC Noche, f*cking Merab sucks. There was no reason to pull out.
“No, (I don’t regret not pulling out). Because I’m going to whoop Merab’s ass, and it’s going to make it that much sweeter when I beat him the second time,” O’Malley continued. “Overall, I had a good camp. Way better camp than the Aljo camp. The rib injury was a lot harder to train with than the torn labrum. The labrum, it’s just pain. … I was able to do a lot more.”
O’Malley has little doubt that a second dance with Dvalishvili lies in his future.
With the result, the Georgian standout extended his winning run to 11, avenged teammate Aljamain Sterling’s loss to “Sugar” in 2023, and exited the cage with gold in his possession for the first time.
But according to the consensus next in line, Dvalishvili hasn’t adjusted well to life as champ…
Nurmagomedov Tells Dvalishvili He ‘Looks Bad’ After Comments About First Defense
During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Nurmagomedov provided an update on his hopes to compete for the title next time out and reacted to Dvalishvili’s attempts to dismiss him as a worthy contender.
In addition to naming Deiveson Figueiredo as a more deserving challenger pre-fight, Dvalishvili snubbed the opportunity to set up a clash with Nurmagomedov inside the Octagon at UFC 306. And in the weeks since, the Georgian has even pitched a rematch with O’Malley.
Nurmagomedov has frequently hit back at the champ’s remarks. According to the Russian, Dvalishvili needs to start acting like a divisional kingpin instead of shying away from a threat to his rule.
“Right now, he’s champion. Everybody is pushing. But he’s looking very bad when Joe Rogan or UFC ask him in some interviews about me and he go away and says he can’t talk (pretends to stutter),” Nurmagomedov said. “He’s looking very bad. He has to talk like a champion. He has to be a champion. He has to know he can beat everybody. Right now, you have belt, you are number one.”
It remains to be seen when Nurmagomedov will have the opportunity to cash in on his expected title shot.
Regardless, the Dagestani plans on competing prior to Ramadan in 2025, be it in competition for Dvalishvili’s bantamweight gold or against another top contender at 135 pounds.
If Merab is going to avoid me, I won't wait for him. And I'll fight with anyone UFC suggests before ramadan
Fans didn’t seem happy with Bautista keeping the former UFC featherweight champ in a clinch. The rising bantamweight prospect couldn’t secure a single takedown despite ten attempts and even during the clinch, he prioritized control over damage which was unusual.
Bautista belongs to the same team as Sean O’Malley and the latter’s coach Tim Welch backed his fighter for trying to win the fight. However, he was instantly called out for doing so…
Sean O’Malley’s Coach Explains Why Mario Bautista Played It Safe Against José Aldo At UFC 307
While reacting to UFC 307 on his YouTube channel, Tim Welch looked elated for Bautista winning his seventh fight in a row. With a couple more wins, he can aim to enter the top five and eventually fight for the UFC bantamweight title.
To be fair, Bautista has always been an active fighter inside the Octagon. His wins over Ricky Simón and Jin Soo Son are great examples of the same. He possesses several tools, including shoulder strikes and knees that work like a charm during a clinch.
According to Welch, the American fighter kept it safe against Aldo to make sure he won the fight and got the full pay. While this is an understandable take, the coach was instantly called out for heavily criticizing Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling-heavy game plan against O’Malley.
“People are pissed about it. But you got to remember, Mario’s got a family and if he loses the fight, he makes half the amount of money he would’ve if he would win the fight. He’s not going to make a crazy amount of money, a big win bonus, if he goes and sits and slugs it out and potentially gets KO’ed by one of the nastiest strikers ever. He went in there with good game plan, he came in in shape, he did what he had to do to win the fight and if you were in that position, you’d probably do the same.”
Some fans also pointed out that Dvalishvili was more active than Bautista. The UFC bantamweight champion not only secured several takedowns at UFC 306 but also remained active on the ground. So, Welch favoring Bautista after rejecting Dvalishvili didn’t sit well with many.
Image: Tim Welch on YouTube
It is worth noting that Welch has recently admitted to “Machine” having a great game plan against O’Malley at UFC 306. However, it seems like most people in the MMA circle still remember him trying to claim “Suga” won and rooting for damage-based scoring in fights.
