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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Why UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili is willing to fight Sean O’Malley in November but not Umar Nurmagomedov

Merab Dvalishvili Umar Nurmagomedov UFC Sean OMalley

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili would prefer a full training camp to fight Umar Nurmagomedov.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) claimed the 135-pound title when he defeated Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September. No. 1 contender Nurmagomedov has been pestering him about a fight date, but Dvalishvili said he’s willing to fight him in March – when Nurmagomedov can’t compete due to Ramadan.

But what rubbed Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and many others wrong was Dvalishvili offering O’Malley a rematch in November. Dvalishvili explains the reasoning behind his callout.

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