Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wooden, thinks issues would go even worse for Umar Nurmagomedov in a possible rematch.
After handily defeating Sean O’Malley to assert the bantamweight crown final yr, Dvalishvili’s first protection got here towards Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January. Regardless of going into the bout as a sizeable 3-to-1 favourite on some sportsbooks, the Dagestani got here up quick on all three scorecards, struggling the primary lack of his profession.
With Dvalishvili cruising past Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, talks of a possible rematch between Nurmagomedov and ‘The Machine’ are popping up. However should you ask Wooden, that will solely finish in catastrophe for Khabib’s cousin.
“I feel he finishes Umar. I feel he destroys Umar,” Wooden instructed Submission Radio. “It’s method worse for Umar. Individuals attempt to make excuses for no matter Umar’s camp had occurring. That was the worst Merab that you just’ve ever seen. That was probably the most unhealthy, sick, injured Merab that you’ll ever see take a short-notice battle: hand, again, rib, shins, shins, staph an infection.
“All the pieces you can probably undergo, and he nonetheless went on the market and dealt with it similar to that. And that’s one that you just don’t need to have offended Merab in your ass – and he’s not an enormous fan of among the stuff that they are saying, among the stuff he does. I feel that goes in a way more violent vogue, and I feel there’s a end that will in all probability be popping out of that battle.”
A sequel scrap between Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili possible isn’t on any MMA fan’s wishlist. Nonetheless, the bantamweight division is sorely missing contenders regardless of being one of the crucial talent-rich weight courses within the UFC, placing a rematch nicely inside the realm of chance.
But when Dvalishvili will get his want, maybe his next test will come towards former 135-pound champion Petr Yan.
