Known for his elite grappling and boxing skills in the UFC bantamweight division, Omar Nurmagomedov is fully confident Merab Dvalishvili will come out on top in his upcoming title fight against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 on September 14, despite the relentless boxing Dvalishvili has had – Renowned for his grappling, averaging about seven takedowns every 15 minutes, Nurmagomedov has reservations about Georgia’s recent performances
“I don’t know why Cejudo showed the worst fight [against Dvalishvili],” Nurmagomedov told MMA . He thought age and long layoffs had affected Henry Cejudo’s performance. “I think he went down because of his age, three years of not fighting, but I think if [they were fighting] when Cejudo was in his prime, I think it would have been a different outcome.”
Dwalishvili Recent Victory
Despite his misgivings, Nurmagomedov acknowledges Dvalishvili’s impressive track record and skills. Dwilishvili’s dominance in the Octagon is evident in his 10-fight winning streak, highlighted by a decisive victory over former champion Petr Yan His boxing skills have been central to his success, allowing him to impose his will on opponents, . has had success with relentless pressure and plenty of takedowns.
However, Nurmagomedov remains cautious. “Merab is doing very well right now,” he said. “His wrestling is very good. You don’t know when he’s going to score a takedown or when he’s going to punch you. He mixes both well.” Nurmagomedov sees himself as a significant challenge to Dvalishvili due to his strong boxing skills and scoring ability. “I can give him legs all day and he won’t let me down,” he added.
UFC Abu Dhabi and Future Matchups
Nurmagomedov’s immediate focus is his fight against Corey Sandhagen in the main event at UFC Abu Dhabi. A win in this fight sets up Nurmagomedov as a top contender for the bantamweight title, and if the Georgian boxer wins the title against O’Malley, it sets up a potential fight with Dvalishvili.
“If Merab loses, he will never fight for the title again,” Nurmagomedov warned. He noted Dwalishvili’s age and slight mistake in the bantamweight division of the tournament. “He’s 34 or 35, I don’t know how many years he has to fight to win the title.”
Nurmagomedov is open to fighting anyone in the division, including Dvalishvili, O’Malley, or others. “I want to fight anyone,” he said. “It’s hard to talk about. It’s like, who’s going to do their job? If Merab does her job with the takedown, holding her down and dominating on the floor, she will win. If O’Malley doesn’t keep him close and uses his punches and kicks, he will win.”
Congratulations to O’Malley
Despite rumors and controversy, Nurmagomedov hailed Sean O’Malley’s reign as bantamweight champion. O’Malley’s knockout victory over Alzman Sterling and title defense win over Marlon Vera earned Nurmagomedov respect. “He’s a good fighter,” Nurmagomedov said of O’Malley. “He’s a good hunter. For a bantamweight, he is tall and has good technique. He deserves to be a leader.”
Nurmagomedov’s compliments emphasize the bantamweight division’s competitive mentality and the intriguing matches that are yet to come. The division is set for exciting changes, but it remains to be seen if Dvalishvili can overcome O’Malley or if Nurmagomedov will get his chance to establish himself.
