Georgian Merab Dvalishvili retained his UFC bantamweight world title as he edged out Umar Nurmagomedov over 5 rounds on Saturday night, with the champion declaring within the post-fight press convention that he may have had his leg amputated as a result of a leg an infection as he confirmed off his scar to the media in attendance.
The status of the Nurmagomedovs in blended martial arts is world-renowned, coupled with an eighteen-fight unbeaten document, and it positioned the challenger as a powerful favorite with the bookmakers. Nevertheless, Dvalishvili was having none of it and outworked the Russian to a unanimous resolution victory.
With that outcome, the champion additionally handed Nurmagomedov, cousin of UFC legend Khabib, his first skilled loss. Nurmagomedov confronted his personal adversity through the five-round struggle, breaking his hand in spherical one with photos uploaded to social media following the defeat.
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Dvalishvili Had A number of Accidents To Contend With.
Throughout a post-fight breakdown of UFC 311, high MMA journalist Ariel Helwani stated: “Somebody near Merab informed me that common individuals would have in all probability had their leg amputated in the event that they needed to cope with the staph an infection that he had on his leg”.
Talking on the post-fight press convention, the champion responded to the information that Nurmagomedov had damaged his hand in spherical one “I broke my again in coaching camp and it was some days I can not stand up from the mattress, I used to be laid down and I don’t have a Khabib Nurmagomedov to assist me to coach. Some days, the P.I. [UFC Performance Institute] was closed. It was Christmas and it was new years and weekends, and it occurred a few instances, Umar was there and the safety says, ‘I’m sorry. We can not allow you to go in.’
He went on so as to add: “In November, I obtained huge cuts on my leg. This simply healed up Wednesday and closed, lastly. It was huge cuts, it was taking so lengthy to heal up, after which it will get contaminated after which each time any individual touched me and I used to be doing wrestling or kicking, it was so painful. That was a problem for this coaching camp. Then I had this struggle and I’m laid down in my mattress, I’m depressed, I can not go to the gymnasium. Umar Nurmagomedov was speaking trash: ‘Merab will pull out. I received’t be shocked if Merab pulls out.’ I’m like: ‘No! I’m not going to drag out.’ I by no means pull out.”
What’s Subsequent For The Reigning Bantamweight Champion?
It’s both a rematch with Sean O’Malley or Nurmagomedov, however I don’t assume the UFC would rush Nurmagomedov again so rapidly. Dvalishvili already expressed his opinion that his challenger wasn’t deserving of a title shot. So it’s extraordinarily unlikely that the UFC will match them collectively immediately. Whereas O’Malley is the person that the Georgian ripped the belt from in September final yr, so he’ll seemingly have the prospect to win again in a rematch subsequent.
There are different notable names within the 135lb rankings, reminiscent of Petr Yan and Corey Sandhagen; nevertheless, the UFC will seemingly give the chance to the aforementioned O’Malley, who is without doubt one of the most marketable stars all through all the roster.
