Professor Merab Dvalishvili is back at school.
As the UFC’s bantamweight champion continues to lobby for his next fight to come against Petr Yan rather than Umar Nurmagomedov, he put together another of his classic skits to explain why one matchup makes much more sense than the other. In a video posted to social media, Dvalishvili lays out his resume with 11 straight wins and victories over numerous former champions and contenders — an accolade he shares with Yan.
But Dvalishvili can’t say the same for Nurmagomedov, who he has continuously touted as a fighter being gifted a potential title shot based around his famous last name rather than anything he’s accomplished in the octagon.
Back into the classroom to drop hard truths—lessons from my victories and who’s worthy of facing me next. If you don’t know, now you know. Got questions? I’ve got answers. pic.twitter.com/Cr71VfEhHI
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) November 27, 2024
“We have former champion Petr Yan who has beat top ranked opponents,” Dvalishvili said in the video. “Deiveson Figueiredo, Song Yadong, I can even give him Sean O’Malley, Cory Sandhagen and ‘King of Rio’ Jose Aldo. Last and certainly least we have Umar. He has beat who? Who? Who? And who? No one but gifted Sandhagen.
“Also reminder guys, I was backup fighter for O’Malley vs. [Chito] Vera and when UFC asked Umar to be backup fighter for me and O’Malley, he said no.”
While UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear that Nurmagomedov is getting the next title shot, Dvalishvili believes he still hasn’t done enough to justify that opportunity.
So he’s doubling down on Yan as his chosen next opponent while telling Nurmagomedov he still has some work to do before getting a chance to compete for UFC gold.
“I mean this guy wants title shots served to his bed like a breakfast,” Dvalishvili said. “Biggest lesson here: Umar get to work. You’re not my level. Earn your title shot like the rest of us, whose last names don’t get gifts. Class dismissed.”
While he didn’t directly respond to Dvalishvili’s post, Nurmagomedov reminded the Georgian fighter what it means to be a champion with a quote immortalized by his teammate and friend, Islam Makhachev.
“What does this title represent? It means you’re the best in the world and if you’re the best in the world it doesn’t matter who is standing across from you. What do I say? No? Never. Let’s do this.”@MAKHACHEVMMA
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) November 27, 2024
