A Champion Who Prefers Respect Over Trash Talk
Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, is known for his formidable fighting skills and his ability to deliver powerful performances inside the octagon. However, what sets him apart from many of his peers is his preference for mutual respect over the often-inflammatory trash talk that dominates the sport. Ahead of his highly anticipated rematch against Petr Yan at UFC 323, Dvalishvili has maintained a cordial and respectful demeanor, a stark contrast to the friction that existed between them in the past.
A History of Rivalry and Redemption
Their first encounter was marked by personal animosity and intense rivalry. Dvalishvili had significant issues with Yan, particularly after the Russian’s involvement in a heated feud with Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate, Aljamain Sterling. The tension reached a boiling point during the official weigh-ins for their first fight, where Yan violently shoved Dvalishvili, necessitating the intervention of UFC officials to keep them apart. This animosity fueled the fire of their fight, which Dvalishvili ultimately won.
A Change of Heart
This time around, the atmosphere is markedly different. Yan has gone out of his way to praise Dvalishvili, even referring to him as the greatest bantamweight of all time and expressing his belief that Dvalishvili deserves an immediate rematch against anyone who might defeat him. This shift in attitude has not gone unnoticed by Dvalishvili, who now views the rematch as a matter of competition rather than personal conflict.
“That time it was a personal fight for me. Now, it’s more competition,” Dvalishvili said during UFC 323 media day. “Because, we fought once already and I beat him. Now every time he’s fighting, I was cheering for him. I looked at his Instagram, he’s a great father. As a fighter, he was always a good fighter. My only problem with him, he was a bully. He was talking trash about me, about [Aljamain Sterling], our team and he was just giving us respect. That was the problem. Now it’s all good. It doesn’t matter what, I will shake his hand and wish him the best in his life.”
The Ugly Side of MMA
Dvalishvili’s disdain for manufactured drama and unnecessary trash talk extends to his previous encounters, such as his fight against Umar Nurmagomedov. The buildup to that fight was particularly contentious, with both fighters engaging in heated exchanges. Dvalishvili found the entire experience deeply unsettling, especially when Nurmagomedov approached him after the fight, asking him not to post a picture of the aftermath.
“I never liked this [buildup] to make it dramatic or something,” Dvalishvili said. “It’s a fight. We are professional fighters and people will watch anyways. It was one guy, the spoiled guy, who called me after our fight and he said ‘oh Merab, don’t post a picture of me, we just built the fight.’ I’m like why did you do this? You don’t need to do this. I don’t like this. MMA fans will watch our fights anyways. If it’s not organic, why do we have to disrespect each other?”
Embracing the Challenge
Despite these past experiences, Dvalishvili remains committed to his sport and his role as a champion. He is prepared to face any opponent the UFC puts in front of him, whether it’s Petr Yan, Sean O’Malley, or even Umar Nurmagomedov again. His motivation is driven by the desire to test himself against the best, rather than by the need for personal vendettas.
“Whoever the UFC puts in front of me, I will fight,” Dvalishvili said. “Of course, I would like to fight guys that are coming from a long winning streak and who look very good and who makes me excited, who makes me work hard. It makes me motivated. For now, Petr Yan makes me motivated. He beat Deiveson Figueiredo, he beat Song Yadong and he Marcus McGhee in a very dominant way. So now he’s the guy.”
A Champion’s Resolve
Merab Dvalishvili’s approach to his career and his sport reflects a deep respect for the craft of fighting and a genuine love for the competition. He believes that the best way to honor the sport and his fans is to conduct himself with dignity and professionalism, both in and out of the octagon. As he prepares for his rematch against Petr Yan, Dvalishvili is focused on delivering another spectacular performance, one that will further cement his legacy as one of the greatest bantamweights in UFC history.
