'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAlL4TZ//EACIQAAEEAQIHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQFEQYhABITFEJRov/aAAgBAQABPwCztJVvSXep48x0GYkuQYMq2gqBmjhJjdfLqfHpcxtZRGY7TXbulyCg5VoN+P/EABsRAAIBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMREmGx/9oACAECAQE/AMA1FL76Z//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgUh/9oACAEDAQE/AK/HI//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Umar Nurmagomedov claimed Sean O'Malley looked like a "bum" against Merab Dvalishvili during their UFC 306 fight.
On Aug. 3, Nurmagomedov made a massive statement by securing a unanimous decision win against Cory Sandhagen. The undefeated Russian's latest performance nearly guarantees a UFC bantamweight title shot against Dvalishvili, who defeated O'Malley for the strap in September.
Nurmagomedov attended UFC 306 to keep a close eye on O'Malley vs Dvalishvili. The number two-ranked bantamweight recently did an interview with Kevin Iole and had this to say about the title-changing main event matchup:
"O'Malley is a bum, you know, in the MMA. He don't have any grappling. He don't have any wrestling. He didn't even try to be like fighting [against Merab Dvalishvili]. He just waiting, he just running. He fight like a bum. Merab, he's good. With Merab, you have to go ahead and fight. You have to go ahead and try to take him down, defend, go ahead, punch him, kick him. You can't beat him when you're running from him."
Watch Umar Nurmagomedov's comments below:
Heading into UFC 306, Sean O'Malley had to overcome a torn labrum suffered in training. The severe injury combined with Merab Dvalishvili's relentless grappling attack proved too much for the American superstar, leading to Dvalishvili becoming the new UFC bantamweight king.
Dvalishvili's dominant win against O'Malley extended his streak to 11 fights. The Georgian started his UFC tenure with back-to-back losses before sparking his ongoing impressive run.
Will Umar Nurmagomedov fight Merab Dvalishvili next?
Umar Nurmagomedov's latest win had fans thrilled to see how he would perform against Sean O'Malley or Merab Dvalishvili. Unfortunately, UFC title shots are often not as simple as most people expect.
Following UFC 306, O'Malley attempted to convince fans he deserved the decision win against Dvalishvili. As a result, the former bantamweight king called for a rematch, which Dvalishvili began entertaining.
Nurmagomedov's reaction has been to accuse Dvalishvili of avoiding a fight with him. Nonetheless, the matchup between Nurmagomedov and 'The Machine' will likely be next, as O'Malley's torn labrum injury required surgery, leaving him sidelined for several months.
