In Stake’s unique interview with Merab Dvalishvili forward of his battle with Umar Nurmagomedov, the present UFC Bantamweight Champion has addressed the discuss 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 tough to cope with. Nevertheless, that has solely helped to construct the thrill that many have when the battle takes at UFC 311. Many have recognized the competition between the pair as a possible UFC betting alternative, as there could possibly be quite a bit to think about outdoors regular battle parameters. As an illustration, the pair could take the anger they seem to have towards one another into the Octagon, which may make for a sloppy battle that might current challenges.
Certainly, it’s totally attainable to anticipate each males to stay as skilled as anticipated. Dvalishvili is the present champion, having managed to compile a file that reads 18-4 forward of the bout for the UFC Bantamweight Championship title. He has been capable of stand his personal with regards to his fights, going the space within the overwhelming majority of them. His 4 defeats have come largely by the use of choice (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 battle.
For Umar Nurmagomedov, he does symbolize a risk. The cousin of the legendary Khabib is undefeated in his 18 fights up to now, protecting the household identify going as a dominant drive within the UFC. On the identical time, he has usually wanted to go the space to file the win, with half of his victories coming by the use of choice. He’s barely favored to come back out on high on this upcoming contest, given his undefeated status, though it received’t be simple.
Harm 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 way of an excuse, suggesting that he already has his competitor beat and is working scared.
When requested about his personal damage, he mentioned: Yeah I’m good now. I’ll publish the damage or no matter after the battle, however earlier than I don’t need to present and make individuals panic. The damage was critical, it was not a joke. I’ve taken a battle on. Coaching was critical 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 have been to lose the battle as he’s “ready to go”.
He additionally famous how he had initially wished to battle in February or March however would “step up” and battle Nurmagomedov in January after his opponent accused him of attempting to dodge the battle and delay it as a result of these months wouldn’t go well with him. Now, with no backup fighter scheduled for the battle ought to both of them have to drag out at this late stage, Dvalishvili has instructed that Umar is making excuses forward of the bout.
Dvalishvili mentioned: “Of course he is making excuses, as you guys saw he was training with Henry Cejudo like he was holding gloves to Henry and was punching, and then I saw he was sparring with tough guys and I have heard him say that he was totally fine and that he had little injury a couple of months ago…it is just him making excuses..”
He additionally went on to handle the will 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 things. Go on his Twitter. He deleted many, but you are still 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 in regards to 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 could be “humbled” as soon as he fights him contained in the Octagon.
He additionally burdened that he has by no means mentioned that he isn’t a great fighter, alluding to the truth that he takes the upcoming bout very critically, depsite believing Nurmagomedov doesn’t deserve the title alternative in the mean time.
“I have never said that he’s not a good fighter. I say he’s a good fighter, but he takes shortcuts, you know. He cheated a little bit because he was fighting nobodies and guys on their debut. And then from debut guy, he fought number two, you know, that’s, that’s a gift and that’s a shortcut. And that’s not how you want to earn your title fight.”
He feels that Nurmagomedov ought to have had a minimum of another battle in opposition to somebody like Tune Yadong to show himself. Nevertheless, he has accepted the problem regardless of preventing again in opposition to the declare that he’s a “fake champion”, based on his opponent following his victory in opposition to O’Malley.
UFC 311 Seems Fiery Apart From Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov Beef
Except for the potential fireworks between Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov, there is no such thing as a denying that the UFC 311 battle card is trying fiery. A complete of 14 fights are scheduled to happen, with the cardboard at the moment shaped as the next:
Essential 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 – Decide Of The Evening?
Whereas there are lots of bouts to have a look at for potential storylines, there may be one which stands out by far.
The competition between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan will probably have probably 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 would see the pair conflict for the UFC Light-weight Championship.
The pair have historical past, having first fought in April 2019 after they have been on the cardboard of the UFC Struggle Evening: Overeem vs. Oleinik occasion. The pair fought in a decent contest that noticed a number of wrestling strikes exchanged between the pair of them, leading to Makhachev being named the victor by unanimous choice.
Now, virtually 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 numerous curiosity from battle 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 file. He has had three profitable defenses of the title, having crushed 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 profitable it in October 2022.
That’s to not say that Tsarukyan doesn’t have an opportunity. He arguably gave Makhachev the toughest battle of his profession in his debut contest in UFC. He has a file of 22-3 since his opener, along with his personal big-name victories having occurred to offer him the possibility to compete for the title. He received that proper after defeating Oliveira in his final bout, after being judged to have received the competition by the judges in a cut up choice at UFC 300.
Because of this, the 2 fighters are anticipated to place in an distinctive efficiency on the evening, even when the preliminary bout between the duo was virtually six years in the past. For these trying to attempt to predict how the battle could attain its conclusion, many are suggesting that it’s going to are available the identical method because the one between Dvalishvili and Nurmogomedov is anticipated to finish: by choice.
For battle followers, this could possibly 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, somewhat than seeing an early end that disappoints those that have waited so lengthy to see them happen.
