LAS VEGAS – Merab Dvalishvili is assured he would run via Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 306 headliner at Sphere (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
After his UFC on ABC 7 principal occasion win over Cory Sandhagen in August, Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was declared No. 1 contender by UFC CEO Dana White. In a matchup between two of one of the best grapplers at 135 kilos, Dvalishvili boldly stated he’d haven’t any points with Nurmagomedov’s type.
“First, I’ve a tricky opponent: Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 306 media day. “I’m targeted on him. God prepared after I win towards him, whoever the UFC desires me to combat, I’ll combat.
“I by no means select my subsequent opponent. If Umar is my subsequent opponent, that’s wonderful. Me and my staff, we are going to work and we are going to practice. That combat, I feel it’s simple for me. That combat is not any downside for me. I’ll dominate him.”
Dvalishvili made it clear on quite a few events that he doesn’t assume Nurmagomedov is a worthy title challenger after securing only one prime 5 win. He’d relatively combat former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who has defeated Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera since shifting as much as bantamweight.
“What excites me extra: Deiveson Figueiredo,” Dvalishvili stated. “He’s a former champion, I already beat three former champions. Sean O’Malley is champion now. He will likely be my fourth champion, and if I combat Figueiredo that will likely be my fifth champion.
“That’s my aim. Figueiredo has knockout energy, he has good submissions, good floor recreation, a number of expertise, he’s larger than me. Additionally, he dominated former title challenger (Marlon) ‘Chito Vera’ – in an much more spectacular means than Sean O’Malley.”
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