Merab Dvalishvili is ready to fight Henry Cejudo despite being accused of avoiding the fight.
Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) put out a video on his YouTube channel ripping Dvalishvili for his unwillingness to fight his teammate Aljamain Sterling when he was bantamweight champion.
Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is the No. 1 contender, and even after Sterling lost his title to Sean O’Malley, it appears the Georgian fighter will be passed up for a title fight. O’Malley wants to run things back with Marlon Vera for his first title defense.
“There’s an entertainment value that you’re not understanding nor getting,” Cejudo told Dvalishvili. “And let’s put myself in the situation of Dana White. You don’t want to fight Aljamain Sterling. You guys are buddy-buddy. It seems like you’re his butt plug now. I really don’t get it. I’d fight any of my friends for the belt.”
Former UFC dual-champion Cejudo thinks the only way Dvalishvili could ever get a title shot is if he fights him.
“I don’t think the UFC’s very fond of you, from what I’m hearing,” Cejudo said. “So you have a couple options. One, you wait out and you dry yourself out, and I think the UFC is probably thinking about doing something with you, dry you out and just not let you fight ever again or you could fight the ‘Triple C.’ … You get through somebody like myself then you have a little more leverage.”
Dvalishvili took to “X” to respond to Cejudo, saying he’s more than willing to fight him.
“Hey Henry Cejudo, first of all, put respect on my name,” Dvalishvili said. “Stop your bullsh*t disrespect. You may be humbled again. Next, fake news. There is no contract. What should I sign? Since Sean O’Malley doesn’t want the smoke with real contenders and of course, the UFC gives their boy what he wants, I’m not going to sit around and wait. I’m going to fight with you. I’m here, ready to go.”
Hey @HenryCejudo first of all put respect on my name. there is no contract!What should I sign? Since Sean O’malley doesn’t want the smoke of a real contender and the UFC gives their boy what he wants,I will fight you. I am not sitting around waiting. I’m here and ready to go.👊🦾 pic.twitter.com/fHCcxNlRqK
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) October 11, 2023
Dvalishvili is on a nine-fight winning streak, and is coming off back-to-back wins over former champions Jose Aldo and Petr Yan. Cejudo returned from a layoff of nearly three years to challenge then champion Sterling at UFC 288 in May, but was edged out in a split decision loss.
