Kamaru Usman believes Umar Nurmagomedov is the right opponent to raise UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili’s profile.
Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dethroned Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to say the bantamweight title in a dominant resolution win in Saturday’s UFC 306 headliner at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Though the digital camera panned to Nurmagomedov throughout his post-fight octagon interview, Dvalishvili refused to acknowledge him. He insists Deiveson Figueiredo is the extra worthy contender.
Usman pointed to his rivalry with Colby Covington, which introduced out the most effective of him. He thinks Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) might do the identical for Dvalishvili.
“Merab is just not afraid, however I do know he’s frightened a couple of man like Umar, and generally these are the fellows that actually put you on that subsequent stage,” Usman mentioned on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “Merab may come on the market and seem like freaking the most effective we’ve ever seen.
“So I wanted that dance accomplice. Colby Covington gave me that, and in order that’s what Merab – at this level, I feel if I had any recommendation for Merab, it’s to embrace that. It’s to embrace that. You’re proper. After they did ask him that query, he form of danced round it.”
Henry Cejudo suggests Nurmagomedov is unhealthy information for Dvalishvili.
“Merab is aware of. Merab has a respect for Umar, and I personally simply assume he’s in bother,” Cejudo mentioned. “With all due respect, I respect the truth that one, he beat me, after which two, that he got here on our present. However in case you don’t struggle a man like Umar, the UFC goes to make you struggle a man like Umar. Your profession as a champ is just about carried out.”
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