Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are engaged in an escalating war of words, with both fighters trading barbs over a potential UFC bantamweight championship bout.
Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov are escalating their verbal duel.
The latest volley in the ongoing rivalry saw Dvalishvili kick things off by vowing he will “smash” the undefeated Nurmagomedov should they meet in the octagon. Dvalishvili recently became bantamweight champion with a commanding decision win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. Nurmagomedov is in pole position to be his first challenger, coming off an important win over Cory Sandhagen that improved his pro record to 18-0.
See Dvalishvili’s social media shot below, along with Nurmagomedov’s response.
“I smacked Petr Yan’s a** like a b****,” Dvalishvili wrote. “I carried Henry Cejudo like a baby, I kissed Sean O’Malley like his daddy BUT I will simply SMASH Umar if the UFC puts him in front of me next.”
Nurmagomedov replied, “There is no if. There is only one contender and that is me. you became champion only because you did not accept a fight with me twice before. For the same reason there are no fighters from the top 10 in my list of fights, you and those like you did not accept a fight with me.”
In six UFC appearances, Nurmagomedov has finished three of his opponents. He defeated his first ranked opponent when he won a five-round decision over Sandhagen this past August. He is currently No. 2 at bantamweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, behind only Dvalishvilli.
Dvalishvili did not take Nurmagomedov’s words lying down as he put his Twitter fingers to work to address Nurmagomedov’s claim.
“Umar now not only are you disrespectful, you are a liar,” Dvalishvili wrote. “If UFC offered you to fight with me 2 times – show the fans the contract and the dates. They offered me to fight you right after I beat Petr Yan with a broken hand in 6 weeks. I accepted the fight verbally even though I was no. 1 contender and you were no. 13 rank and even with broken hand.
“Ultimately the doctor said no to this and I had surgery. So lets see the contract of the second offering??!!! So if the UFC is gifting you the title defense – wtf are you talking trash and with disrespect? I’m done with you now because you keep lying – you lost my respect as a man and a martial artist. I will wait to hear from the UFC.”
Unwilling to let Dvalishvili have the last word, Nurmagomedov accused Dvalishvili of being willing to fight through injury to accept a fight with Sandhagen, but not him.
Is that the same injury you were ready to fight Cory with?
I am just basing this on the manager’s words .
Since prehistoric times no one cares about the respect of cowards. https://t.co/bsqtqQazMU— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv)
“Is that the same injury you were ready to fight Cory with?” Nurmagomedov wrote. “I am just basing this on the manager’s words. Since prehistoric times no one cares about the respect of cowards.”
He also shared an image of himself with his cousin, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, writing, “Merab doesn’t have any other options, his only choice is to fight with me. I’m the next contender to fight for the UFC bantamweight championship.”
Merab doesn’t have any other options, his only choice is to fight with me I’m the next contender to fight for the UFC Bantamweight Championship
InshaAllah ☝— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv)
Dvalishvili is yet to respond to the latest Nurmagomedov statement. Though he likely has his mind on other matters as he recently received a hero’s welcome in his home country of Georgia.