Merab Dvalishvili Gets Upset After Seeing Team Khabib Carrying The Russian Flag In The Octagon At UFC 330 Following Islam Makhachev’s Victory

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UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has voiced his frustration after witnessing members of Team Khabib display the Russian flag inside the Octagon at UFC 330 following Islam Makhachev’s recent victory. In a video circulating online, the Georgian star can be seen expressing his confusion over what he perceives as inconsistent enforcement of the promotion’s flag policy.

Dvalishvili questioned why he faces restrictions while others apparently do not. “I thought they not allowed to have a flag there. They don’t let me use the flag,” he stated. “This flag is banned everywhere in the world. And only, of course, they show it here in UFC.”

The champion’s complaints stem from a longer history with the promotion’s flag regulations. Back in April 2022, the UFC implemented a ban on flag displays during events, a decision that came amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

While the promotion later relaxed some aspects of this policy, the rules have remained somewhat murky, particularly regarding in-Octagon celebrations.

For Dvalishvili, the restrictions hit particularly hard. He had been wearing a Georgian necklace to represent his homeland until receiving direct communication from the UFC. “I was wearing a Georgian necklace. I got an email from UFC. They said I am not allowed to have this on anymore,” he revealed.

Rather than accept the limitation quietly, ‘The Machine’ found a creative workaround. Before his 2023 bout with Petr Yan, he had the Georgian flag tattooed across his chest, alongside a map of his native country.

“I started fig hting because I want to represent my country. That’s my number one motivation. And I got a tattoo bro. A nice tattoo,” he explained.

When asked whether he would consider removing the tattoo if the UFC requested it, Dvalishvili was firm.

“No, I am not doing that. They have to accept. I mean, it’s my tattoo. It’s my country, bro. It’s my country map and my country flag. I’m proud, I love it, and I actually never wanted [a tattoo] before, but now I have my country close to my heart.”

The recent UFC 330 incident that sparked Dvalishvili’s latest comments involved two members of Makhachev’s team entering the Octagon after his victory and unfurling a Russian flag behind the lightweight champion.

Initially, the flag was held upside down, momentarily resembling the Serbian tricolor before being corrected. Once properly oriented, observers could see names written across each of the three colored stripes: Khabib, Islam, and Usman.

The appearance of “Usman” on the flag has fueled speculation about Usman Nurmagomedov’s future, as the lightweight competitor is reportedly in negotiations with the UFC following the conclusion of his PFL contract.

For Dvalishvili, the contrast was stark. “And then this guy, not even from the same country. I don’t understand, bro. And especially the flag has the names,” he said.

The Georgian champion pointed out what he sees as a double standard. “But they don’t let me use it in there. Walkout, yes, but they don’t let me carry there in Octagon. I guess, OK, I will hide it somewhere, and then I will use it.”

According to longtime MMA manager Daniel Rubenstein, the UFC’s current policy allows athletes to walk out with flags but prohibits displaying them inside the Octagon during post-bout celebrations. The reasoning, he explained, is that flags can obstruct sponsor logos on the canvas and cage posts.

This policy was visibly enforced at UFC Winnipeg, where Canadian welterweight Mike Malott had his national flag taken away by an official as he attempted to celebrate his victory over Gilbert Burns.

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