Merab Dvalishvili Calls Out Umar Nurmagomedov and Manager

Merab Dvalishvili says the only two people from Dagestan he genuinely dislikes are Umar Nurmagomedov and Umar's manager, Rizvan Magomedov. The former UFC bantamweight champion made the comments on The Ariel Helwani Show, drawing a hard line between his respect for Dagestani fighters in general and his feelings toward one specific rival and his camp.

Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision at UFC 311, handing the previously unbeaten 30-year-old the first loss of his career. Umar later said he fought through a broken hand and has pushed for a rematch, an idea Dvalishvili has flatly rejected. The tension boiled over again recently at RAF Georgia, where Dvalishvili slapped a friend of Umar's after the man grabbed him by the neck and told him not to bring Umar's name up while trash talking.

Why Dvalishvili Singled Out Rizvan Magomedov

Dvalishvili said he holds deep respect for the Nurmagomedov family and for Dagestani fighters as a group, name-checking the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov specifically, but drew a clear exception for Umar and Rizvan Magomedov. "I respect Umar's family, the Nurmagomedov family, so much. I have so much respect for all Dagestani people, especially the fighters... The only two guys from Dagestan I don't like are Umar and his sneaky manager, Rizvan," Dvalishvili said. He accused Magomedov of fueling online disrespect behind the scenes, saying, "I found out later that he was, I guess, helping Umar disrespect me on X, making threats and writing all these disrespectful things about me and my country... If I do not like somebody, I do not fake the respect." Dvalishvili added that he was struck by the turn given how warmly Magomedov had been received on a visit to Georgia. He also pointed to a recent interview in which Umar Nurmagomedov suggested Dvalishvili's first win over Petr Yan only happened because Yan was hurt, a claim Dvalishvili clearly has not forgotten.

What This Means for the Yan Trilogy

Dvalishvili is not just dealing with a grudge, he is also getting ready to run it back with Petr Yan, and he was candid about how badly last year's rematch went for him. Yan took the bantamweight title from Dvalishvili and denied him a shot at becoming the first champion in UFC history to rack up four successful defenses in a single calendar year. Dvalishvili admitted his own camp was the problem last time, saying he spent the lead-up "burning himself out" instead of training with Yan specifically in mind, and called Yan the best bantamweight in the world right now. "Petr Yan will never be an easy fight for me... If I don't prepare really, really well, he will beat the shit out of me again," Dvalishvili said.

That kind of public self-scouting is rare from a former champion heading into a trilogy fight, and it is worth noting for bettors. Dvalishvili is not selling a bounce-back narrative built on revenge alone, he is explicitly saying the fix is about training smarter, not just harder. Sportsbooks tend to treat rematches with a proven finishing formula as sticky lines, and Yan enters this trilogy as the fighter who solved Dvalishvili's pace and won clearly. Until Dvalishvili shows tangible camp changes in fight week, expect the market to lean toward Yan as the more trusted side, with Dvalishvili's price shaped as much by his own admissions as by anything Yan has said.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the two Dagestani fighters Merab Dvalishvili says he dislikes?

Merab Dvalishvili named Umar Nurmagomedov and Umar's manager, Rizvan Magomedov, as the only two people from Dagestan he does not respect, while saying he has great respect for Dagestani fighters generally.

Why do Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov have beef?

Merab Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision at UFC 311, and the rivalry has continued through Umar's comments blaming a broken hand for the loss and a physical altercation between Dvalishvili and one of Umar's friends at RAF Georgia.

Is Merab Dvalishvili fighting Petr Yan again?

Yes, Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan are set to fight for a third time, with Dvalishvili saying he must train smarter this time after losing the bantamweight title to Yan in their rematch.