Merab Dvalishvili just won the UFC bantamweight title but may learn immediately that there is no such thing as a true honeymoon phase. How long will it last with Umar Nurmagomedov lurking in the corner?
Dvalishvili beat Sean O'Malley at UFC 306 in The Sphere, using his superb wrestling to neutralize the colorful O'Malley to finally win gold. The top-ranked fighter in the division had a long journey to get the title, including not facing friend and former champion Aljamain Sterling.
While Dvalishvili was hesitant to fight Sterling and faced other challengers, Nurmagomedov became a force.
Nurmagomedov (18-0), the cousin of former champion Khabib, is undefeated in the octagon with three finishes. "Young Eagle" has seven wins via submission and has already won two fights in 2024. Ranked second, it seems likely he will fight for gold next, right?
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If Dvalishvili decides to take time off or the UFC can't book a date between the two, Nurmagomedov is ready and willing to fight whoever to stay active.
"I don't want to wait until next year - I want to fight," Nurmagomedov said via Gorilla Fighting. "Anyone, even if it's King Kong - let them make weight and we'll fight. I really don't care - I don't want to wait for these guys. I have my own goal, I'm going to be the greatest, so I have to be active!"
Before competing twice in 2024, Nurmagomedov only fought four times after 2019. UFC CEO Dana White said it best about Nurmagomedov via MMA Junkie: "Those are the fights publicly everybody says they'll take, but privately, nobody wants to take 'em."
O'Malley will be out of action until late 2025 following hip surgery. Another fight to make for Dvalishvili is against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, ranked fifth and on a three-fight win streak. If a fight against Dvalishvili doesn't happen immediately, Nurmagomedov could face the Brazilian, though the former already won an eliminator contest against Cory Sandhagen.
Regardless of opponent, Nurmagomedov will be ready.
