Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, recently addressed the possibility of a rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov, setting clear conditions before agreeing to face him again. Having defended his 135-pound title against Nurmagomedov earlier this year at UFC 311, Dvalishvili stated that Nurmagomedov will need to complete one or two more fights before a rematch can be arranged. This reveals Dvalishvili’s focus on staying busy in the division while maintaining his title defense plans.
At UFC 311, Dvalishvili earned a unanimous decision victory over Nurmagomedov, who sustained a broken hand during the bout and has been sidelined since. More recently, Dvalishvili defended the belt again at UFC 316, submitting former champion Sean O’Malley in the third round. Looking ahead, ‘The Machine’ is expected to face Cory Sandhagen next and aims to stay active with two more fights planned this year. UFC President Dana White has previously suggested running the fight back against Nurmagomedov, but Dvalishvili remains firm on his conditions.
Umar Nurmagomedov respects Dvalishvili’s resilience but critiques technique
Despite suffering his first professional loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov has expressed admiration for the champion’s toughness. In an interview with Adam Zubayraev, Nurmagomedov praised Dvalishvili’s durability and unmatched cardio, highlighting the difficulty in wearing him down during a fight.
“I’ve hit Merab clean myself — he didn’t even flinch. Tough guy. He’s really hard to knock out. He’s got cardio for days, and he’s just got brute strength.” —Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC bantamweight contender
However, Nurmagomedov also pointed out technical shortcomings in Dvalishvili’s grappling skills, noting that while Dvalishvili overwhelms opponents, his submission skills and control on the ground are limited.
“It’s not like he’s got advanced grappling skills or submissions — he can’t even hold people down properly. He just overwhelms.” —Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC bantamweight contender
Implications for the bantamweight division and upcoming fights
Dvalishvili’s clear conditions suggest he wants to maintain momentum by staying active and targeting other top contenders before revisiting a rematch with Nurmagomedov. His scheduled bout with Cory Sandhagen is expected to be a significant test, potentially shaping the division’s landscape further. Nurmagomedov’s recovery timeline from his hand injury also factors into the delayed rematch talk, giving Dvalishvili space to solidify his reign in the UFC bantamweight class.
The ongoing tension between honoring Dana White’s call for a rematch and Dvalishvili’s demand for Nurmagomedov to prove himself further hints at a competitive dynamic in this division, keeping fans eager to see how these fighters’ paths will cross in the near future.