Earlier this week, UFC CEO Dana White announced several huge fights for UFC 311, including title fights between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, and Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov.
With that, the promotion announced that there would be a special press conference to take place this past Friday, with Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan, Merab Dvalishvili, and Umar Nurmagomedov all taking to the stage.
Since Dvalishvili won the title this past September, he and the undefeated Nurmagomedov have continuously gone back and forth online, building anticipation for their bantamweight title fight.
Merab Dvalishvili throws hilarious jacuzzi jibe at the Nurmagomedov team
Ahead of their clash at UFC 311 in California on January 18, the two continued the theme of getting extremely heated as they continued to trade verbal jabs on stage.
Fortunately for Nurmagomedov, he had the backing of his teammate, Makhachev, who seemingly kept it respectful with his opponent, Tsarukyan.
However, ‘The Machine’ attempted to pull Makhachev into his feud with the 28-year-old by bringing up a historic photo that surfaced online and has plagued Team Khabib ever since.
The lightweight champion was asked by a reporter what his best moment with Umar has been, to which Makhachev replied: “The same night we fight for the title, that’s the best moment.”
“How about the jacuzzi?” Dvalishvili hilariously replied.
“You can come,” Makhachev told the bantamweight champion.
“I was not there, and you have to talk about your fight, not something else. Focus on your fight, Merab,” Nurmagomedov said.
“I want to say just one thing, I don’t have nothing for you Merab, just respect, don’t make the belt look bad you know, when you have some real contender, just fight,” Makhachev told Merab.
The ‘jacuzzi’ moment Dvalishvili is talking about is from several years ago when Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev, and several other members of their team shared a jacuzzi.
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Things get heated backstage between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov
After going back and forth with each other for over 30 minutes on stage at the press conference, the two were then faced off by Dana White, who opted for extremely heavy security, not letting them get close to each other.
When the fighters were sent backstage following the press conference, ‘The Machine’ and Nurmagomedov continued to attempt to get at each other, with the champion claiming he would call him to meet him on the street.
“I will be in Vegas, call me. Anytime,” Nurmagomedov shouted at Dvalishvili as the two were kept separate by several security guards.
“Come here, I’m here now,” Dvalishvili responded.
“Here, a lot of security. Call me, we’re gonna see,” the Russian contender said.
“Okay, I will call you,” said Dvalishvili as he seemingly accepted his offer.
Someone who will be in attendance for the UFC 311 co-main event is former champion, Sean O’Malley, as ‘Suga’ recently claimed he will be there to find out who he is fighting next for the title.
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