Merab Dvalishvili, after defeating Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, expresses frustration over Nurmagomedov’s disrespectful comments and focuses on his upcoming title defense against Petr Yan at UFC 323.
Merab Dvalishvili prefers to let his actions speak in the octagon, but he’s got a few words for Umar Nurmagomedov.
Back in January at UFC 311, Dvalishvili faced Nurmagomedov and emerged victorious by unanimous decision, retaining his UFC championship. It was an electrifying match, sparking immediate chatter about a potential rematch. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili has kept busy, defending his title twice in 2025 and gearing up for a bout against Petr Yan next Saturday at UFC 323. Not to be outdone, Nurmagomedov has also fueled the rematch buzz by defeating Mario Bautista at UFC 321 in October.
Dvalishvili expressed frustration, saying, “No. 1 thing: He didn’t respect me and he called me a fake champion.” He questioned the authenticity of Nurmagomedov’s tweets, suspecting someone else might be behind them. “What kind of man you are when somebody’s tweeting for you?” he wondered aloud.
Despite language barriers, Dvalishvili makes sure his words are his own, even if he needs help translating. “I will never let my manager or my friend or my brother tweet for me,” he insisted, feeling disrespected by Nurmagomedov’s online jabs.
Adding to the tension, Nurmagomedov questioned Dvalishvili’s championship credentials. This accusation seemed absurd, especially with Dvalishvili on the brink of breaking the record for most UFC title defenses in a year.
Dvalishvili was particularly irked by being labeled a “fake champion.” He emphasized, “I earned it to get there, I was champion, and he should respect me.” The lack of respect was what angered him most.
As Dvalishvili prepares for UFC 323 and another showdown with Yan, his focus remains on his title defense, not the ongoing feud with Nurmagomedov. He’s clear about his priorities: “He’s now making excuses and I’m done with him. Next question, please.”