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 say the bantamweight crown final yr, Dvalishvili’s first protection got here in opposition to 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 brief on all three scorecards, struggling the primary lack of his profession.
With Dvalishvili cruising previous Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, talks of a possible rematch between Nurmagomedov and ‘The Machine’ are popping up. However in the event you ask Wooden, that might solely finish in catastrophe for Khabib’s cousin.
“I feel he finishes Umar. I feel he destroys Umar,” Wooden advised Submission Radio. “It’s means worse for Umar. Individuals attempt to make excuses for no matter Umar’s camp had occurring. That was the worst Merab that you simply’ve ever seen. That was essentially the most unhealthy, sick, injured Merab that you’ll ever see take a short-notice battle: hand, again, rib, shins, shins, staph an infection.
“Every little thing you can probably undergo, and he nonetheless went on the market and dealt with it similar to that. And that’s one that you simply don’t wish 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 trend, and I feel there’s a end that might in all probability be popping out of that battle.”
A sequel scrap between Nurmagomedov and Dvalishvili doubtless 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 effectively inside the realm of chance.
But when Dvalishvili will get his want, maybe his subsequent check will come in opposition to former 135-pound champion Petr Yan.
