Coach: Merab Dvalishvili bantamweight GOAT if he beats Umar Nurmagomedov

January 6, 2025 2:40 pm ET

John Wood argues that Merab Dvalishvili could separate himself with a win at UFC 311.

Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) defends his bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the Jan. 18 co-main event from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+Ā pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

With wins over the likes of former champions Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo, and Sean Oā€™Malley already on his resume, Wood says beating Nurmagomedov would make Dvalishvili the greatest bantamweight of all time.

ā€œ(If) Merab goes out and beats Umar, which I believe he will, I think thereā€™s no question that heā€™s the bantamweight GOAT,ā€ Wood told Inside Fighting. ā€œAnd had all those guys that he beat been title defenses, itā€™s not even a question now. So I think weā€™re looking at the next bantamweight GOAT here shortly.ā€

Dvalishvili is adamant that Nurmagomedov does not deserve a title shot and has been pretty riled up in the lead-up to the fight. Wood admits Dvalishvili is an emotional guy but assures that heā€™s honed in.

ā€œHe was motivated and emotional by Petr Yan,ā€ Wood said. ā€œHe was motivated and emotional with Henry Cejudo at one point. He was motivated and emotional with Oā€™Malley, so itā€™s no different. That is part of the process that we get into. He doesnā€™t have to hate somebody or be whatever to be motivated, but itā€™s part of the process.

ā€œHe gets into the fight. Heā€™s there to fight, heā€™s there to go out there and do battle with the person across the cage. This one, thereā€™s been a little more emotion to it as far as he feels a little disrespected that he is the champion, and that thereā€™s a lot of debate on whether Umar deserves the title shot.ā€

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkieā€™s event hub forĀ UFC 311.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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