Merab Dvalishvili had loads of his personal issues to fret about heading into UFC 311.
Following his unbelievable determination win over the beforehand unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov in Saturday’s co-main occasion, each males used a part of their post-fight interview time to debate accidents. Nurmagomedov particularly famous that he could have damaged his left hand in Spherical 1, whereas Dvalishvili was minimize off by interviewer Joe Rogan earlier than he might elaborate on his personal points.
On the night’s post-fight press convention, the UFC bantamweight champion was requested for his ideas on Nurmagomedov’s harm and he believes he was affected by far worse within the months main as much as this battle.
“I broke my again in coaching camp and it was some days I can not rise up from the mattress,” Dvalishvili stated. “I used to be laid down and I don’t have a coaching camp and I don’t have a Khabib Nurmagomedov to assist me to coach. Some days the P.I. was closed. It was Christmas and it was New Yr’s and weekends and it occurred a few occasions Umar was there and the safety goes, ‘I’m sorry. We can not allow you to go in.’
“I’m not making this excuse. You’re a f*cking fighter and also you’ve acquired to discover a solution to win. It’d occur, perhaps, I don’t know, however after he disrespected me, he stated so many bullshit issues. I don’t know, as a fighter I respect him. God bless him, I want him all the most effective, but it surely’s a battle, however guess what? Who broke his hand?”
No matter maladies the fighters have been coping with, it didn’t appear to pull both of them down an excessive amount of. Dvalishvili pushed his relentless tempo as at all times, finally overwhelming a sport Nurmagomedov, who challenged Dvalishvili with a number of thrilling exchanges on the toes and on the mat.
In accordance Dvalishvili, it wasn’t simply his again that had lately given him issues, he additionally needed to cope with a minimize on his leg that was bothering him up till the center of UFC 311 battle week.
“In November, I acquired large cuts on my leg,” Dvalishvili stated. “This simply healed up Wednesday and closed, lastly. It was large cuts, it was taking so lengthy to heal up, after which it will get contaminated, after which each time someone contact me and I used to be doing wrestling or kicking, it was so painful. That was a problem for this coaching camp.”
“Then I had this battle and I’m laid down in my mattress, I’m depressed, I can not go fitness center,” he continued. “Umar Nurmagomedov is speaking trash, ‘Merab will pull out. I received’t be shocked if Merab pull out.’ I’m like, ‘No! I’m not going to drag out.’ I by no means pull out.”
Dvalishvili joked that he’s able to battle once more subsequent week if known as upon, however the bantamweight king could wish to take a while off after logging his first profitable title protection. He had beforehand complained in regards to the timing of his battle with Nurmagomedov, although he stated he felt he owed it to the UFC to simply accept the Jan. 18 date due to all the things the promotion had accomplished for him.
Having knocked off one of many boogeymen of the division in addition to a number of legends and former world champions already, it’s unclear what’s subsequent for Dvalishvili, although he’s prepared for regardless of the matchmakers give him.
“I wish to battle the most effective guys within the division, like I at all times do,” Dvalishvili stated. “That’s what excites me, the subsequent greatest problem. However I believe I beat everyone on this division, however we’ll see whoever is the subsequent greatest problem. I believe additionally [Sean] O’Malley, he was complaining about one thing and he actually has an opportunity. We all know he can actually knock folks out if he lands on you, he has an enormous likelihood. I see him as a problem, too. Possibly he’ll make some modifications this time and perhaps we go toe-to-toe this time and it’s going to be battle, I believe.
“However I’m a champion now, they must name me out, and I’m prepared to come back again fast as quickly as UFC desires me to come back again.”
