Umar Nurmagomedov doesn’t have a status as a prolific trash talker however he finds it moderately humorous that Merab Dvalishvili has been so offended by no matter he’s stated forward of their struggle at UFC 311.
Lengthy earlier than the matchup was made official, Dvalisvhili screamed to the heavens that Nurmagomedov was disrespecting him and didn’t deserve the chance to compete for the UFC bantamweight title after simply six fights within the promotion. Dvalishvili additionally acquired moderately upset by a backstage interplay throughout a UFC 311 press convention this previous December the place he claims he confronted the Russian fighter over his perceived disrespect and Nurmagomedov informed him he stated what he stated “as a result of I wished to [and] what are you going to do about it?”
Nurmagomedov didn’t deny the interplay however he additionally added that Dvalishvili’s anger in direction of him was actually misguided, particularly given the circumstances surrounding how their struggle got here collectively.
“After all, I do not forget that second,” Nurmagomedov stated throughout UFC 311 media day. “When he requested to me, I noticed him, I smiled at him and go to do an interview. He come to ask me ‘why you disrespect me?’ OK, he has a query why you disrespect me? I wish to inform him what are you speaking about? Precisely what did I say? You’re too delicate. Clarify to me. He’s speaking about ‘why are you disrespecting me? Why are you disrespecting me?’ I’m not his son. He can’t ask me like father and son ‘why do you do that?’ He’s not my father. After all, I wish to inform him as a result of what are you able to do?
“In case you guys can discover something the place I stated together with his identify Merab — Merab is a coward, Merab is a bullshit man or anything — present me.”
If something, Nurmagomedov believes he had the correct to be upset in direction of Dvalishvili after the reigning UFC bantamweight champion constantly discounted him as a rightful contender for the belt.
Dvalishvili went to nice lengths to discredit Nurmagomedov’s declare to a title shot whereas touting former champions like Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley as extra worthy challengers.
“He does some video the place he’s a trainer and he reveals why Petr Yan deserves [the title shot] greater than me, after all I’ll inform him Merab, don’t be scared,” Nurmagomedov stated. “No person understood why you’re making an attempt to keep away from [me].
“Dana [White] stated I’m subsequent. Joe Rogan after his struggle requested to him ‘what about Umar? He’s the subsequent challenger.’ All over the place he tried to keep away from, proper? Nevertheless it’s not like me what I stated. All phrases, all followers stated ‘Merab’s making an attempt to keep away from this struggle, he’s trying unhealthy’ and what else I’ve to do?”
Nurmagomedov says in the end Dvalishvili didn’t do himself any favors by pushing for all these different fights when the UFC made it clear who he could be dealing with in his first title protection.
That’s actually what got here again to chunk him and Nurmagomedov believes Dvalishvili has nobody accountable however himself for a way he’s being perceived.
“After all he’s nervous,” Nurmagomedov stated. “Possibly he’s upset with the UFC. They pushed him to struggle with me. Even earlier than when he was not champion, he don’t take this struggle. He doesn’t wish to struggle with me. When he grew to become champion, I believe he tried to struggle with different ones as a result of different guys are going to be a straightforward struggle for him.
“He can’t inform something to UFC, to Dana [White], like he can’t present them. He’s all the time speaking like he’s an organization man however they pushed me to struggle with me.”
In relation to his championship credentials, Nurmagomedov doesn’t know why Dvalishvili is getting so bent out of form.
Nurmagomedov is aware of there’s no straight line to a title shot as a result of some fighters get that chance faster than others and he’s solely taking the alternatives being afforded to him.
“A few of them struggle for the title after a one [fight] win streak,” Nurmagomedov defined. “A few of them struggle for the title in his debut struggle.
“It doesn’t make sense to inform this that I fought for the title due to my cousin’s identify, due to Khabib’s identify, or the UFC pushed me. Aljamain Sterling fought for the after a 5 [fight] win streak. Why can’t I struggle for the title after six [wins]?”
For all of the unhealthy blood that’s simmered to the floor forward of the struggle, Nurmagomedov is completely satisfied to lastly put all of it behind him and simply settle issues with Dvalishvili within the octagon.
“I don’t care what he says, what he needs,” Nurmagomedov stated. “Cage goes to shut and we’re going to point out who’s one of the best fighter.”
