Umar Nurmagomedov Praises Merab Dvalishvili Ahead UFC Title Rematch Vs Petr Yan

Umar Nurmagomedov acknowledges Merab Dvalishvili's dominance in their UFC bantamweight division, having suffered his first defeat against him earlier this year, but holds no hostility and respects Dvalishvili's work ethic and achievements. Nurmagomedov praised Dvalishvili's activity and consistency, suggesting he deserves 'Fighter of the Year' honors for his multiple title defenses and frequent fights in 2025. While Nurmagomedov is optimistic about his upcoming fight against Mario Bautista at UFC 321, he expressed interest in a rematch with Dvalishvili following Dvalishvili's title defense against Petr Yan at UFC 323. He believes Dvalishvili will likely dominate Yan unless Yan manages a TKO, reinforcing Dvalishvili's current 14-fight winning streak and successful title defenses. Despite the physical toll from his previous fight with Dvalishvili, including surgery for a broken hand, Nurmagomedov has been diligently recovering and training, demonstrating resilience and readiness for his next bout. Overall, Nurmagomedov respects Dvalishvili's accomplishments and remains focused on his own path forward in the UFC.