Merab Dvalishvili has emerged as one of the top contenders in the UFC bantamweight division. From being a dark horse, he has now cemented his place among the best bantamweights in the world. His recent victory over former champion Petr Yan has only added to his growing reputation.
Dvalishvili’s impressive run has caught the attention of Cory Sandhagen, who has called him out following a win this weekend.
Undefeated bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov has also expressed his desire to test himself against ‘The Machine’. The UFC offered the two a main event bout on May 13, but Dvalishvili declined due to a lingering injury.
Dvalishvili showed the extent of his injury after Petr Yan event. Apparently it was a huge issue two weeks leading up to the event.
Nurmagomedov, however, remains eager to face Dvalishvili and has urged the UFC to reschedule for June or July. He believes that the clash between the white papakha and black papakha could be an interesting and pivotal bout in the talent-stacked division.
Dvalishvili’s manager, Oren Hodak, has stated that his guy is interested in facing Sandhagen instead, who is a more high-profile opponent than Nurmagomedov, who is not even in the top 10.
Despite the potential clash being delayed, both remain eager to test themselves against each other. Dvalishvili’s impressive rise has certainly caught the attention of the UFC and MMA fans alike.