UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has once again emphasized his personal dislike for Umar Nurmagomedov despite maintaining that fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan generally get along well. Dvalishvili described the broader regional dynamic as one of hardworking people engaged in healthy competition. However, he made clear that his feelings toward Nurmagomedov are an exception to this friendly rivalry. Fans are calling for a rematch between the two fighters to settle their ongoing animosity inside the octagon.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has gone public once more with his personal contempt for top contender Umar Nurmagomedov, making it plain that whatever goodwill exists across the wider Caucasus and Dagestan fight community does not extend to his feelings about the Russian prospect.
Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5 record and carries the UFC bantamweight title alongside a number-two spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Georgian wrestler, who trains out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, is one of the most relentless fighters in the division, averaging 6.4 takedowns per fifteen minutes — a figure that reflects his suffocating, pace-driven style. He acknowledged that fighters from Armenia, Georgia, Chechnya, and Dagestan typically share a mutual respect built on hard work and healthy competition, but stressed that Nurmagomedov represents a personal exception to that dynamic.
Nurmagomedov, 30, stands as the number-two ranked bantamweight and trains with Eagles MMA in Russia. Carrying a 20-1 record, he has established himself as the division's most credible challenger. He lands 3.86 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 56 percent accuracy, while also contributing 4.03 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on both feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- Dvalishvili holds the title; Nurmagomedov is ranked directly behind him, making a rematch the logical next step for the division.
- The public animosity adds genuine personal stakes to what is already a compelling stylistic clash between two high-output grapplers.
- Fan pressure for the rematch is growing, and Dvalishvili's comments keep that conversation at the forefront of bantamweight discourse.
The champion's willingness to single out Nurmagomedov while speaking warmly about fighters from the same region signals that the rivalry carries weight well beyond standard pre-fight promotion.
