Javier Mendez believes that Merab Dvalishvili won against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 through gamesmanship and presence, despite Nurmagomedov’s superior performance in terms of damage.
Javier Mendez has a theory. He believes Merab Dvalishvili outsmarted Umar Nurmagomedov with some clever gamesmanship. Intriguing, right?
Back in January, Dvalishvili defended his title against Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. Despite being the underdog, he edged out Nurmagomedov with relentless cardio and pressure. The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in his favor.
Nurmagomedov later revealed he broke his hand in the first round. Ouch! He claimed it hindered his performance. But Mendez? He thinks there’s more to the story.
On his podcast, Javier & Mo, Mendez shared his thoughts with Umar. "I felt you won three out of five rounds," he said. Maybe a bit biased? Sure. But he believed Dvalishvili’s showboating in the fifth round swayed the judges.
Presence matters, Mendez argued. Even if the damage wasn’t significant, Dvalishvili acted like a winner. And that? It left an impression on the judges.
Statistically, the fight was razor-close. Dvalishvili landed seven more strikes and five extra takedowns—though with twice as many attempts. Yet, he walked away with the decision.
Now, what’s next? Dvalishvili is gearing up for a rematch with Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in June. As for Nurmagomedov? Rumor has it he’s eyeing a fight with Petr Yan. Fingers crossed!