Umar Nurmagomedov hopes Merab Dvalishvili makes it to their battle at UFC 311.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) within the Jan. 18 co-main occasion from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Dvalishvili has been vocal about not desirous to battle Nurmagomedov, deeming him as an unworthy title challenger. When requested if he worries that Dvalishvili doesn’t make it, Nurmagomedov didn’t rule out the chance.
“I cannot (be) stunned, and no person will (be) stunned,” Nurmagomedov instructed the UFC on the opportunity of Dvalishvili pulling out. “Even proper now I noticed commentary or on Twitter they mentioned he’ll pull out, however he by no means pulled out earlier than. I hope he won’t, and the battle goes to occur.”
Dvalishvili, prepared to run issues again with Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan, rubbed Nurmagomedov the fallacious approach. He thinks Dvalishvili is aware of the problem he faces forward of him.
“I feel he simply needs to battle with an actual man he can beat,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “It doesn’t imply I’m actually going to 100% go contained in the cage and smash him, no. He is aware of different guys, he’ll beat. With me, it’s going to be onerous. That’s why he’s attempting to be a champion for a very long time, and he needs to battle with O’Malley, with Petr Yan, or another person as a result of these guys, simple cash. Me, no. For me, he has to go deep waters. With me it’s going to be an extended evening. I cannot give him takedowns, he won’t management me.
“I’ve good abilities, hanging abilities, and I could make for him a variety of issues. That’s why, however after we go contained in the cage, I cannot assume he’s terrified of me. I’ll know that this can be a man who will attempt to beat me, I’ll attempt to smash him, and it’s going to be a battle. What I perceive is he doesn’t need to take a dangerous battle. He can beat me, it may well occur. It’s not going to interrupt me. I shall be similar Umar. Combat is battle. Everyone can lose. …If we’re speaking about scared, I simply assume he doesn’t need to take danger, onerous battle.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 311.
Be sure you go to the MMA Junkie Instagram web page and YouTube channel to debate this and extra content material with followers of combined martial arts.
