Merab Dvalishvili insists his upcoming title challenger shouldn’t be worthy of the chance he’s getting at his UFC bantamweight title.
Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) is kind of aggravated at the truth that Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will probably be difficult him within the co-main occasion of UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), and never every other prime contender within the division.
Dvalishvili, who needed to go on a 10-fight profitable streak to get his shot on the belt, doesn’t suppose Nurmagomedov has performed sufficient to benefit the chance, and moreover, isn’t liking Nurmagomedov’s perspective in direction of the scenario.
“Umar is an effective fighter. It’s a giant problem, however he don’t earn it like the remainder of us,” Dvalishvili advised ESPN. “Everyone knows we work exhausting to get right here, I don’t get something simple, however by some means will get simple. He simply complains on a regular basis that no one desires to struggle him, however there are such a lot of good fighters. There’s (Mario) Bautista, there are different fighters which can be killers.
“However yeah, he fought solely (Cory) Sandhagen (with) no wrestling, and he’s utilizing that excuse that he beat the No. 2 man, and now he’s right here. It’s a giant problem, however the one factor I hate is that he don’t earn it how UFC fighters ought to earn it, and he’s simply cocky. He ought to be humble not less than, and he simply disrespects me and mendacity, and that’s not what actual males ought to do. That’s it.”
Regardless of not considering Nurmagomedov is worthy of the title shot, Dvalishvili does acknowledge that the Dagestan fighter is a talented foe, which is why he’s taking the problem very severely.
“The struggle will probably be actually robust and it is a huge, huge problem for me as a result of it’s a brand new face and yeah, he’s a great fighter,” Dvalishvili stated. “He’s good at kicking, hanging, wrestling, and it’s a brand new problem.”
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