Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, is undeniably one of the most entertaining fighters on the roster. Known for his electrifying performances, he often finds himself at the center of controversy due to his public altercations. While these incidents can pose challenges for the UFC, the Georgian star remains dedicated to shutting down hecklers.
Merab Dvalishvili, much like Sean Strickland, doesn’t hold back when expressing themselves. These encounters have led to several public altercations, garnering significant media attention. In a recent interview, the bantamweight champion opened up about his perspective on these incidents, shedding light on his reasons.
I don’t wanna fight these stupid people but I when I see they disrespect professional fighters or somebody’s family…they have to learn like. You teach them..you cannot do this.
Merab Dvalishvili via Verse Us with Eric Nicksick
Dvalishvili’s rival, Sean O’Malley, commented that the bantamweight champion has a tendency to get involved in public confrontations. Dana White addressed the issue, humorously nicknaming Dvalishvili “Mini Strickland” due to his behavior. The UFC CEO noted that Dvalishvili’s behavior is not unprecedented, as other fighters have also been involved in similar situations.
Recently, the champion was at UFC 310 to support his friend and former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling. During the event, he got into a squabble with a fan who was allegedly a close friend of Team Khabib. According to Dvalishvili, it was a plant to get a reaction out of him, however, Team Khabib has denied such allegations.
Merab Dvalishvili predicts his upcoming title defense
Merab Dvalishvili is currently scheduled to fight Umar Nurmagomedov for the UFC bantamweight championship. The fight will take place at UFC 311 and the hype around it is massive. Both fighters have already developed a rivalry and are eager to destroy each other inside the octagon.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Team Khabib at UFC 311 (via X)The bantamweight champion has frequently mentioned that he felt disrespected by Nurmagomedov and will teach him a lesson. The Dagestani star, on the other hand, is undefeated and has the potential to take home the belt. In a recent interview, Dvalishvili revealed that will be the first fighter to give Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s cousin a loss.
He is coming from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s family and we all know Khabib was undefeated. Umar also has a brother (Usman) he is fighting in another organisation and also undefeated. To put one loss on Umar’s career, and the winner will be me, of course it will be big for me.
Merab Dvalishvili via UFC Espanol
Merab Dvalishvili is known for his relentless pressure and takedown abilities. Being from Team Khabib, Nurmagomedov does have a strong wrestling base, however, his striking is also sharp. It would be interesting to see if the champion manages to maintain his dominating run at UFC 311.
Stay Updated!
Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.
