"This is why I lost respect" - Merab Dvalishvili takes offense at Umar Nurmagomedov's "dirty games," the Dagestani hits back with an ultimatum

The tension between UFC bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili and unbeaten contender Umar Nurmagomedov is heating up on social media. The rivalry stems from Nurmagomedov’s claim to the No. 1 contender spot following his decisive victory over Cory Sandhagen in August.

Dvalishvili, fresh off dethroning Sean O'Malley at UFC 306, has consistently dismissed Nurmagomedov as his next challenger.

In a recent exchange, Nurmagomedov shared a Georgian proverb on X:

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"A coward will always find an excuse to retreat - Georgian proverb"

The comment appeared to target Dvalishvili, who fired back, accusing Nurmagomedov and his manager Ali Abdelaziz of engaging in “dirty games” and disrespecting Georgia and its people. The bantamweight champion wrote:

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"That's why I lost respect for Umar and Ali a long time ago. They play dirty games and write nonsense without respecting my country and my people. Keep the same energy, when I see you in person - I'll see what happens"

Nurmagomedov quickly responded, urging Dvalishvili not to involve his country in their personal dispute and challenged him to confront him directly:

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"Do not drag your country or people into a personal conflict with me. When you meet me in person, do not turn away"

Check out the back-and-forth between the two below:

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Merab Dvalishvili cheers UFC debutant ahead of UFC 310, brands him 'real deal'

Kai Asakura is gearing up for his highly anticipated UFC debut at UFC 310 on Dec 7, and his preparation has caught the attention of reigning bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Asakura's impressive physique was on full display in a recent Instagram post by ESPN MMA ahead of his clash with flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

The post featured clips of Asakura’s past victories in Rizin, where he established himself as a dominant bantamweight champion. Among the many comments praising the Japanese fighter, Dvalishvili’s stood out. 'The Machine' commented:

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“He is Real Deal"

Merab Dvalishvilli cheers Kai Asakura ahead of UFC debut. [Screenshot courtesy: @espnmma via Instagram]

Asakura’s debut will be one for the history books, as he steps into a title fight despite being unranked in the UFC. The promotion’s decision to grant him a championship opportunity in his debut fight also stems from a lack of clear contenders at flyweight.

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