Umar Nurmagomedov is firing back at Merab Dvalishvili after the UFC champion denied him a title opportunity amid rumors of a possible injury

Merab Dvalishvili wonders whether Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) “deserves” the title shot.

During a question-and-answer session with fans ahead of this weekend’s massive PPV, Merab Dvalishvili noted he was fired up about the expected bantamweight title fight between him and 18-0 contender Umar Nurmagomedov.

“Let’s boo this guy… I’m not afraid of anyone – only God,” Dvalishvili claimed before going from 0 to 100 in a second, shouting over the boos that the unbeaten Russian was “afraid” of the machine .

“Where is this guy?! He’s scared! He’s arguing with someone else, where is he?! Tell me, where is he?! He wants to get knocked out by someone and then he wants to make excuses because he won’t do it [make it to] this fight.

“Dana White and Hunter make the decision as to who I’m going to fight next, I don’t make that decision… If Dana White tells me to fight Umar, then I’ll fight Umar, but you know what? Umar doesn’t deserve to fight me!”

Dvalishvili, who confidently won UFC gold just a few months ago, barked that he would face Sean O’Malley next and that Nurmagomedov needed to “prove himself” in the meantime.

Umar Nurmagomedov hits back after claiming Song Yadong was out due to injury

Last week it was reported that the 18-0 Nurmagomedov will headline the upcoming UFC Tampa card against fan-favorite striker Song Yadong on December 14th.

While those reports have since been proven false, Nurmagomedov has now confirmed that any chance of a return in December has been ruled out after Song sustained an injury in training camp.

“I am always ready and at the moment I am waiting for an opponent as Yadong refused to fight in December – I was told he was injured,” he wrote on X before taking aim at the Georgian cardio machine.

“Merab, before my fight with Sandhagen, you said that I would earn recognition if I beat him. Now you have changed your position – decide who you are…

“All the fans and analysts notice how you are avoiding the fight. Mastery is recognition, but you haven’t received it and you know that very well.”

Luckily, there’s still a chance Nurmagomedov can win against Song for the New Year, as the Chinese athlete wrote on Instagram: “Hey Umar, let’s fight on January 18th.”^That UFC 311.

“I like it if it won’t be me [fighting] “For the title, this is the best option,” Nurmagomedov replied.

The Russian will have to fight in January to avoid a lengthy break as he will observe Ramadan the following month.

UFC 311 venue and location not yet confirmed; However, the PPV card is expected to be headlined by the lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.

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