In Stake’s exclusive interview with Merab Dvalishvili forward of his struggle with Umar Nurmagomedov, the present UFC Bantamweight Champion has addressed the speak about accidents whereas revealing he doesn’t consider what his foe has been saying about his earlier than addressing the perceived bitterness between the 2.
The pair have shaped a feud through the years, with each discovering the opposite troublesome to take care of. Nonetheless, that has solely helped to construct the thrill that many have when the struggle takes at UFC 311. Many have recognized the competition between the pair as a possible UFC betting alternative, as there might be quite a bit to contemplate outdoors regular struggle parameters. As an illustration, the pair might take the anger they seem to have towards one another into the Octagon, which may make for a sloppy struggle that would current challenges.
Certainly, it’s fully attainable to anticipate each males to stay as skilled as anticipated. Dvalishvili is the present champion, having managed to compile a report that reads 18-4 forward of the bout for the UFC Bantamweight Championship title. He has been in a position to stand his personal on the subject of his fights, going the gap within the overwhelming majority of them. His 4 defeats have come largely by the use of resolution (three), with one different by submission. His victories have largely come from the identical final result, together with the wins in his final 4 consecutive fights, which included the controversial victory over Sean O’Malley for the title at UFC 306. Nonetheless, he’s the #1 ranked fighter at this weight class, which is why it’s proper to anticipate an expert struggle.
For Umar Nurmagomedov, he does symbolize a menace. The cousin of the legendary Khabib is undefeated in his 18 fights to this point, maintaining the household title going as a dominant power within the UFC. On the similar time, he has typically wanted to go the gap to report the win, with half of his victories coming by the use of resolution. He’s barely favored to return out on high on this upcoming contest, given his undefeated status, though it gained’t be straightforward.
Damage Scandals? Dvalishvili Has Had Sufficient Of Accusations
Within the interview with Stake, Dvalishvili revealed that he isn’t a fan of his upcoming opponent, particularly as he retains speaking about accidents forward of the bout. He argued that Nurmagomedov continues to speak about accidents as a method of an excuse, suggesting that he already has his competitor beat and is operating scared.
When requested about his personal damage, he stated: Yeah I’m good now. I’ll put up the damage or no matter after the struggle, however earlier than I don’t wish to present and make individuals panic. The damage was severe, it was not a joke. I’ve taken a struggle on. Coaching was severe and I used to be coping with a couple of knocks, however thank God now I’m okay and able to go!” He had admitted that the damage had stopped him from coaching, however said that it wouldn’t be an excuse if he had been to lose the struggle as he’s “able to go”.
He additionally famous how he had initially wished to struggle in February or March however would “step up” and struggle Nurmagomedov in January after his opponent accused him of making an attempt to dodge the struggle and delay it as a result of these months wouldn’t go well with him. Now, with no backup fighter scheduled for the struggle ought to both of them have to tug out at this late stage, Dvalishvili has steered that Umar is making excuses forward of the bout.
Dvalishvili stated: “After all he’s making excuses, as you guys noticed he was coaching with Henry Cejudo like he was holding gloves to Henry and was punching, after which I noticed he was sparring with robust guys and I’ve heard him say that he was completely high-quality and that he had little damage a few months in the past…it’s simply him making excuses..”
He additionally went on to handle the need Umar has to obtain proof of the damage on the press convention by stating: “Bro, I posted on my Instagram. Go watch what he did. He did so many issues. Go on his Twitter. He deleted many, however you might be nonetheless going to see it. He was disrespectful to me.”
Dvalishvili Admits He Doesn’t Respect Nurmagomedov As A Man, However Does As A Fighter
Talking concerning the “bitterness” between the 2 fighters forward of their conflict, Dvalishvili admitted that he revered his opponent as a fighter, however not as a person. He revealed that he felt Usman was “cocky” and can be “humbled” as soon as he fights him contained in the Octagon.
He additionally confused that he has by no means stated that he isn’t fighter, alluding to the truth that he takes the upcoming bout very significantly, depsite believing Nurmagomedov doesn’t deserve the title alternative in the intervening time.
“I’ve by no means stated that he’s not fighter. I say he’s fighter, however he takes shortcuts, you recognize. He cheated a bit of bit as a result of he was preventing nobodies and guys on their debut. After which from debut man, he fought quantity two, you recognize, that’s, that’s a present and that’s a shortcut. And that’s not the way you wish to earn your title struggle.”
He feels that Nurmagomedov ought to have had no less than yet another struggle in opposition to somebody like Tune Yadong to show himself. Nonetheless, he has accepted the problem regardless of preventing again in opposition to the declare that he’s a “pretend champion”, in accordance with his opponent following his victory in opposition to O’Malley.
UFC 311 Appears Fiery Apart From Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov Beef
Other than the potential fireworks between Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov, there is no such thing as a denying that the UFC 311 struggle card is wanting fiery. A complete of 14 fights are scheduled to happen, with the cardboard presently shaped as the next:
Important Card
- Islam Makhachev (Champion, 26-1) vs Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) for the UFC Light-weight Championship
- Merab Dvalishvili (Champion, 18-4) vs Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) for the UFC Bantamweight Championship
- Jiří Procházka (30-5-1) vs Jamahal Hill (12-2)
- Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) vs Renato Moicano (20-5-1)
- Kevin Holland (26-12) vs Reinier de Ridder (18-2)
Prelims
- Billy Elekana (7-1) vs Bogdan Guskov (16-3)
- Payton Talbott (9-0) vs Raoni Barcelos (18-5)
- Jailton Almeida (21-3) vs Serghei Spivac (17-4)
- Zachary Reese (8-1) vs Azamat Bekoev (18-3)
Early Prelims
- Grant Dawson (22-2-1) vs Carlos Diego Ferreira (19-5)
- Karol Rosa (18-6) vs Ailín Pérez (11-2)
- Rinya Nakamura (9-0) vs Muin Gafurov (19-6)
- Ricky Turcios (12-4) vs Bernardo Sopaj (11-3)
- Tagir Ulanbekov (15-2) vs Clayton Carpenter (8-0)
Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2 – Choose Of The Night time?
Whereas there are various bouts to take a look at for potential storylines, there may be one which stands out by far.
The competition between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan will seemingly have essentially the most eyes on it because of the historical past that the pair share, in addition to the potential ramifications that it might have on a fighter. It can see the pair conflict for the UFC Light-weight Championship.
The pair have historical past, having first fought in April 2019 after they had been on the cardboard of the UFC Combat Night time: Overeem vs. Oleinik occasion. The pair fought in a good contest that noticed a number of wrestling moves exchanged between the pair of them, leading to Makhachev being named the victor by unanimous resolution.
Now, nearly six years later, the pair will get to face off at UFC 311 because the headline occasion, with the bout on January 18 in Inglewood, California, on the Intuit Dome being billed as “Makhachev vs Tsarukyan 2”.
It’s a contest that’s anticipated to have a number of curiosity from struggle followers and bettors alike, with many having already made their UFC picks & predictions forward of the bout. Many consider that the champion will come out victorious as he enters the bout with a 26-1 report. He has had three profitable defenses of the title, having overwhelmed Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 to win it earlier than defending it in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski on two separate events and Dustin Poirier since successful it in October 2022.
That’s to not say that Tsarukyan doesn’t have an opportunity. He arguably gave Makhachev the toughest struggle of his profession in his debut contest in UFC. He has a report of 22-3 since his opener, together with his personal big-name victories having occurred to present him the possibility to compete for the title. He gained that proper after defeating Oliveira in his final bout, after being judged to have gained the competition by the judges in a break up resolution at UFC 300.
Consequently, the 2 fighters are anticipated to place in an distinctive efficiency on the evening, even when the preliminary bout between the duo was nearly six years in the past. For these trying to try to predict how the struggle might attain its conclusion, many are suggesting that it’ll are available in the identical method because the one between Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov is predicted to finish: by resolution.
For struggle followers, this might be an effective way for each to finish, because it may imply we get to see two intensely fought battles final their period, seeing some hard-hitting fight MMA on supply, slightly than seeing an early end that disappoints those that have waited so lengthy to see them happen.
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