'%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,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Umar Nurmagomedov is thoroughly unimpressed with Merab Dvalishvili's response to Sean O'Malley's rewriting of their bout. The Dagestani star took to X to mock 'The Machine' for seemingly avoiding a matchup with him, attaching a string of laughing face emojis to express his amusement.
Recently, O'Malley has claimed that he should have had his hand raised against Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306, despite being outwrestled and outpaced for most of the bout. In response, Dvalishvili has offered to face O'Malley in a rematch, which Nurmagomedov finds ridiculous.
"He ready to fight with anyone except Umar Nurmagomedov"
Following his win over O'Malley at Noche UFC 306, Dvalishvili was asked, in his post-fight interview, about facing the unbeaten Nurmagomedov by veteran UFC commentator Joe Rogan. Instead of addressing the question, the newly minted bantamweight champion ignored it altogether.
Instead, he embarked on a lengthy speech expressing gratitude to UFC CEO Dana White, while also expressing his desire to strengthen his relationship with the promotion's top brass. Nurmagomedov, for his part, merely smiled from the crowd as Dvalishvili paid him no mind.
At a later point, Dvalishvili finally addressed Nurmagomedov, asserting that he would face anyone the UFC books him to defend his title against. Still, however, he has his reservations about taking on Nurmagomedov, who he feels is undeserving of a title shot.
Meanwhile, he is willing to give O'Malley an immediate title rematch as soon as Nov. 16 at UFC 309, which takes place at Madison Square Garden. For now, Nurmagomedov will await the UFC's decision on the matter and continue chirping at Dvalishvili on X.
Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili took over some of the buildup to the latter's title fight with Sean O'Malley
Ahead of Merab Dvalishvili's title-winning performance against Sean O'Malley at Noche UFC 306, he was extremely dismissive of Umar Nurmagomedov as a potential challenger. Dvalishvili felt as though the unbeaten Dagestani hasn't done enough to deserve such an opportunity.
Naturally, this drew Nurmagomedov's attention, who, as has been the case, accused Dvalishvili of avoiding him.
"Merab just focus on your upcoming fight. Too much Umar in your head. Everybody knows that you don't want to fight me. And honestly I don't care about you, I'm just hunting for the belt. If you win the belt, we talk."
Now that Dvalishvili has indeed won the belt, Nurmagomedov has set his sights on him and has not relented.
