Merab Dvalishvili Admits He Feelt No Joy in Umar Nurmagomedov's Knockout Loss

 

 

 

 

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili revealed he took no pleasure in watching his long-standing rival, Umar Nurmagomedov, suffer a brutal knockout defeat at the hands of Song Yadong.

Speaking in an exclusive interview broadcast via @UFConParamount on Paramount+, "The Machine" showed unexpected sportsmanship regarding the main event of UFC Shanghai. Nurmagomedov, who entered the cage as a massive betting favorite, was knocked out cold by a perfectly timed second-round uppercut from Yadong. The shocking stoppage marked the first time the Dagestani fighter had ever been finished in his professional career.

"When I saw Umar lose that way, I was not happy because I never wish somebody to lose or get KO’d like this," Dvalishvili admitted honestly. 

Despite feeling bad for his fierce rival, Dvalishvili confessed that the dramatic shift in the bantamweight landscape presents an intriguing new chapter for his own career path.

"I was not happy, but I was excited for Song Yadong because he’s a new contender now—new blood," Dvalishvili added. "I’ve never fought him, and he may make things exciting for me because he’s dangerous and he has knockout power." Dvalishvili is currently scheduled to face Petr Yan in a high-stakes trilogy bout at UFC 333.