Islam Makhachev has responded to Merab Dvalishvili's complaints about the Russian flag being displayed in the octagon, saying he pays no attention to the Georgian fighter's repeated objections. Makhachev noted that Petr Yan already beat Dvalishvili once and raised the Russian flag in the octagon afterward. Makhachev predicted Yan will beat Dvalishvili again and silence him for good.
Islam Makhachev has waded into the ongoing dispute between Merab Dvalishvili and his Russian rivals, publicly backing Petr Yan to beat the Georgian contender a second time and put an end to his objections about the Russian flag being displayed inside the octagon.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, made clear he has little interest in Dvalishvili's repeated complaints on the matter. The Dagestan native carries a 29-1 record and holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings at 34 years old. Representing the Eagles MMA team, Makhachev is one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 3.22 takedowns per fifteen minutes while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Dvalishvili, ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound at age 35, has been vocal about his objections to Russian flag displays in the UFC octagon. Known as "The Machine," the Georgian fighter out of Serra-Longo Fight Team holds a 21-5 record and is regarded as one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging a remarkable 6.4 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a high-volume striking output of 4.33 significant strikes per minute.
Makhachev pointed to Yan's previous victory over Dvalishvili as evidence that the complaints will ultimately come to nothing. Yan, the current bantamweight champion nicknamed "No Mercy," carries a 20-5 record at 33 years old. The Russian finisher averages 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy, making him one of the more precise and active strikers in the 135-pound division. Makhachev's message was direct: Yan beat Dvalishvili once, raised the Russian flag in the octagon, and will do so again.
Why it matters
- The comments add a nationalistic dimension to what is already a heated bantamweight rivalry
- Dvalishvili's pound-for-pound standing at number two gives the dispute broader visibility across divisions
- Yan's championship status means a rematch would carry title implications, raising the stakes of the back-and-forth considerably
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan
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