Ex-UFC veteran says Dana White "overreacted" about Merab Dvalishvili's cut: "I think it's a non-issue"
Former UFC contender Ben Askren has downplayed the significance of Merab Dvalishvili's recent facial laceration, suggesting that UFC CEO Dana White may have overreacted to the situation.
Dvalishvili, who is scheduled to face Sean O'Malley for the bantamweight title at UFC 306, revealed the injury on social media, sparking concerns about his ability to compete. However, both Dvalishvili and his management team have assured fans that the injury is minor and will not affect his participation in the fight.
Despite Dvalishvili's reassurances, White expressed frustration with the situation, criticizing the fighter for posting about the injury on social media.
While White expressed frustration with Dvalishvili's decision to post about the injury online, Askren believes that the situation is not as serious as the UFC CEO has made it out to be.
Appearing in an interview with Daniel Cormier, Askren had this to say:
“We're 18 days away from the fight still and so he has 18 days left to heal and the stitches are already out. I think it's a non-issue. I think Dana overreacted last week little bit to that. And yeah I think Merab is [gonna] be fine it's gonna be a non-issue.”
Check out Ben Askren's comments below (15:39):
Dana White is baffled by Merab Dvashivalli’s recent video of cutting his own stitches
Dana White has now expressed his disbelief with Merab Dvalishvili after the bantamweight contender posted a video of himself cutting his own stitches. The video, which went viral on social media, showed Dvalishvili using a pair of large scissors to remove stitches from a facial laceration he sustained in training.
White was already concerned about Dvalishvili's decision to share the injury publicly. However, the fighter's latest actions have elevated the situation to a new level.
“Isn’t he awesome? I think he’s just f*cking with me now, to be honest with you."
While White admitted that he trusts Dvalishvili to know what he's doing, he couldn't help but express his disbelief at the fighter's unorthodox approach to wound care:
"Do what you want, you ever see the scissors they take stitches out with? They’re tiny and they have that thing on there so you don’t cut yourself. You can slide them up under the stitches, you don’t cut yourself... Whatever. Good for him.”
Check out Dana White's reaction below: