Arguably, the loudest battle that MMA fans want to see is the fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Khabib's cousin Umar Nurmagomedov. Still, rumors are surging that the newly crowned UFC champion may not be so eager to fight the undefeated Nurmagomedov. While the match makes sense in all aspects of the bantamweight division, Umar believes Merab is skipping the fight, and this has everybody talking around the MMA world.
Merab Dvalishvili's Recent Victory Sets the Stage
Merab Dvalishvili is riding high on confidence after a massive win in UFC 306 in which he defeated Sean O'Malley and pocketed the bantamweight title. O'Malley's injury sidelines him for an unknown duration; therefore, Umar Nurmagomedov is the next one to take up the challenge in that respective division.
Umar is 18-0 untouched and is quite a formidable force, while Merab is riding a 10-fight win streak. Apart from former champions such as Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Jose Aldo, and O'Malley, his victory list is very impressive, TMZ reports.
However, even though Merab has the best resume, Umar thinks that Dvalishvili fears to fight him in the octagon.
"It's looking like he's avoiding [me]. He's scared [of] someone who can defend takedowns, who can stop him. I just want to fight," Umar told the news outlet.
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Umar Nurmagomedov: Ready to Fight, but Is Merab?
While discussing his recent interview, Umar Nurmagomedov respected Dvalishvili as a fighter but questioned why the champ hadn't accepted the fight.
"If we are talking about Merab as a fighter, he's one of the best. He's on a 10-fight win streak. He's the champion. He has records, most takedowns. It's amazing," Umar said. He even likened Merab's journey to that of a movie, acknowledging the hard work that got him to the top. But admiration aside, Umar still wonders why the fight hasn't been scheduled yet.
Timing Is Everything: Umar's Plans Before Ramadan
Umar Nurmagomedov has declared he prefers to fight Merab Dvalishvili before the Islamic fasting period of Ramadan begins late next February. That puts the onus there right away. Umar prefers to fight Merab, but if the champion refuses, his camp is all set to face another top contender.
Can Umar Break Khabib's Record?
With a record of 18-0 and still undefeated, the bigger fish on his plate surpassed cousin Khabib's legendary 29-0 record. Though Umar has started mighty impressively, long roads lie ahead, which he understands to match Khabib's dominance. However, it is enough for the 27-year-old to believe that he is on the right path, and a victory over Merab would certainly boost his claim to greatness.
What's in Store for Merab Dvalishvili?
With these fighters topping their potential in pursuit of proving themselves, a Merab-Umar fight could easily be one of the most awaited battles in the bantamweight division.
One thing is for sure-this is a fight that needs to happen, and UFC fans are hungry for the action. Will Merab rise to the challenge, or will Umar need to find another opponent before Ramadan? We'll find out in their next statement.
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