Umar Nurmagomedov says he’ll be UFC champion with or without Merab Dvalishvili.
Cousin of the legendary lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated UFC Bantamweight suffered the first loss of his career earlier this year at the hands of champion Merab Dvalishvili.
After losing the first two rounds of their title fight at UFC 311, Dvalishvili caught up to Umar Nurmagomedov in the championship rounds and won a thrilling unanimous decision over the distance.
Dvalishvili still reigns over the UFC bantamweight division, recently submitting Sean O’Malley in his second title defense at UFC 316.
The #3-ranked Nurmagomedov was one of Dvalishvili’s toughest fights inside the Octagon, with UFC CEO Dana White teasing a future rematch between the two after Dvalishvili’s latest win.
Umar Nurmagomedov gunning for Merab Dvalishvili rematch, says ‘it won’t be a tragedy’ if it never happens
Months removed from his loss at UFC 311, Nurmagomedov has addressed a potential rematch with Dvalishvili, expecting a much different result without a broken hand injury.
“I really hope so, I want that rematch,” Nurmagomedov told Adam Zubayraev.
“I want to prove that my broken hand was a factor, that it could’ve ended differently, that the outcome might have been completely different.
“But, even if we don’t meet again, if he retires or something, inshallah, I still plan to become UFC champion,” Nurmagomedov continued.
“If that rematch never happens, it won’t be a tragedy for me. I’m not holding onto it emotionally.
“It’s not like he dominated me in that fight. He had takedowns, but he couldn’t really hold me down…
“When Belal Muhammad beat Leon Edwards, that was domination. He beat him up, he really mauled him. That fight, you could call domination. But, not my fight.
“Mine wasn’t like that at all,” the former title challenger explained.
Dvalishvili won rounds 3-5 against Nurmagomedov on all three judges’ scorecards, with round 5 being the deciding round between the bantamweights.
TJ Dillashaw says Umar Nurmagomedov and Aljamain Sterling can dethrone Merab Dvalishvili
Just a round behind Dvalishvili in January, TJ Dillashaw likes Nurmagomedov’s chances in a rematch.
The former UFC bantamweight champion recently named former foe Aljamain Sterling as someone who could beat Dvalishvili.
Seeing the problems Nurmagomedov poses in both the wrestling and the stand-up:
“I think Umar could’ve beat Merab,” Dillashaw said on The Jaxxon Podcast.
“I think when he fights him the second time he’s going to understand the push he’s going to have to have to win that title,” Dillashaw added.
“I think Umar can beat him…
“[Cory] Sandhagen, I would love to see that fight next,” Dillashaw said of Dvalishvili’s next opponent.
“I would obviously love to see [Aljamain] Sterling fight him. I think it would be sick and I think like Sterling can give him a serious test and possibly beat him.”
Dvalishvili and Sterling are longtime teammates and have said in the past they will never fight each other in the UFC.
Sterling is arguably the greatest bantamweight fighter of all time and now competes in the UFC featherweight division.