Merab Dvalishvili will defend the UFC bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. Ahead of their highly-anticipated maiden defense, the 135-pound champion mingled with a former One NZ Warriors rugby league star. Why’s that a big thing? It is because Dvalishvili is finally back at the UFC PI stomping grounds yet again, full-fledged.
Crossover culture is most-oft the way to go big in sports. Alex Pereira and coach Plinio Cruz hit up the F1 Grand Prix Mexico—qualifying grandstands with Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, and some others. Soon, Pereira and former champ Alexa Grasso trained with the F1 team at UFC PI. Now, it’s the mean “Machine” Dvalishvili to the call before UFC 311.
Dvalishvili was spotted with former One NZ Warriors Rugby League star Shaun Johnson at the UFC Performance Institute (UFC PI). During their exchange, Johnson asked the Georgian if he had seen a rugby ball and demonstrated a rugby move. As part of the promotion of National Rugby League (NRL), UFC Australia & New Zealand shared a post of Dvalishvili with Johnson on IG. Check out the snap down below:
It’s a bit of a change of pace for Merab Dvalishvili. Recently, the champion said he was denied PI entry with UFC 311 rival Umar Nurmagomedov training inside. During their PPV on-sale presser, things got heated for the ‘all-frenetic’ Dvalishvili. Ever since, it’s been a no-sight, no-contact thing with the rival Team Khabib. Things have seemingly mended, or have they?
Betrayed? Fighter Merab Dvalishvili once helped ‘live like a human,’ now training with UFC 311 rival
This January’s bad blood is just trimming over and over. In the year’s first big PPV (pay-per-view), Merab Dvalishvili will defend his UFC 135-pound gold for the first time. He meets Nurmagomedov at UFC 311’s PPV co-main event in quite a stiff test.
Friend of Merab Dvalishvili trains with rival ahead of UFC 311 (Source: X)But now, there’s more to the drama. Call the scribes and the bards as there is a new Judas in town before UFC 311! Georgian reporter Giorgi Kokiashvili posted a photo showing one of Dvalishvilli’s pals, Magdi Amachov, training with Nurmagomedov.
This pic broke my heart a little bit.
Magdi Amachov is helping Umar Nurmagomedov to prepare for Merab Dvalishvili.
-Advertisement-Merab helped Magdi to live like a human being in the US. He didn’t had a home and Merab gave him a room for free in his own house and helped a lot.
It’s just sad pic.twitter.com/gDjnNYW5YN
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 (@iHeartGeorgius1) January 6, 2025
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It’s not the first time a fighter’s mate has come to the aid of an opponent. But this one might hit Merab Dvalishvili a little closer to home. The Georgian might even have something to say about it, entering fight week. For what it’s worth, Amachov – an amateur MMA star (2-1 record) – wished both well on his IG.
Despite the clear and better resume, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC), 33, opened up a +164 betting underdog, per DraftKings Sportsbook. It’s not often a champion enters a bout as an underdog, but that is the case. The banter about Nurmagomedov not deserving his crack at gold has amplified it further. Now, the champion might just find extra fuel in the brotherly support Magdi Amachov has found in the rival.
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