Merab Dvalishvili details the weight of responsibility he carries for Petr Yan fight - 'This is Russia vs. Georgia'
Merab Dvalishvili has never been a fan of Petr Yan. Even before their impending battle at UFC Fight Night this week was scheduled, Dvalishvili found himself aligned against Yan in his previous bout against current UFC bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling.
According to Dvalishvili, his fight against Yan is much more significant than a mere title fight. He sees it as a battle between Russia and Georgia.
'The Machine' feels a great sense of responsibility for representing his country, and he knows that his performances in the octagon will be watched closely by his fellow Georgians. He believes that this fight is not just about him, but about his entire nation, and he is determined to emerge victorious for his nation.
In a recent interview with The Schmo, Merab Dvalishvili, the No.3-ranked UFC bantamweight contender, spoke about his upcoming fight against Petr Yan and the immense pressure he feels to represent his home country of Georgia.
Dvalishvili emphasized the significance of the fight, describing it as a battle between Russia and Georgia. He expressed a deep sense of responsibility for performing well and proving himself against 'No Mercy'.
Merab Dvalishvili stated:
"I just want to win this fight that's it. That will better than win title you know, because despite it not only fight this is personl fight for me. My country supporting me you know."
The Georgian native further added:
"It's not secret that, Russian they are not treating Georgia and Ukraine good. And this is like Russia vs. Georgia and this is sport but this is big-big modern fight for me."
Check out the entire conversation below:
Merab Dvalishvili boosts his preparation as the big Petr Yan showdown approaches
Ahead of his highly anticipated bantamweight clash with Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili shared a montage of photos highlighting the hard work and preparation he has been putting in.
Despite starting his UFC career with two losses to Frankie Saenz and Ricky Simon in 2017, the Georgian fighter has since bounced back with an impressive run of victories in the octagon. It appears that Dvalishvili has put those early setbacks behind him, and is now fully focused on continuing his winning streak in the UFC.
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If Merab Dvalishvili can overcome the challenge presented by his upcoming opponent, Petr Yan, he could find himself in a prime position to fight for the bantamweight championship. However, whether or not he will have the opportunity to do so may ultimately hinge on the status of current champion Aljamain Sterling.
'Funkmaster's position as the reigning champion adds an additional layer of complexity to the division, and the outcome of his next fight could have significant implications for the bantamweight landscape.