Merab Dvalishvili has no regrets about his fan altercation this previous weekend.
At UFC 310, Dvalishvili served as one of many cornermen for teammate Aljamain Sterling’s struggle, and after the bout, the UFC bantamweight champion nearly got into a fight with a fan. The altercation instantly went viral, and so later, “The Machine” launched an announcement by social media claiming the fan was truly a member of Umar Nurmagomedov’s crew who deliberately tried to provoke him. After having some days to sleep on the scenario and funky off, Dvalishvili wouldn’t change a factor.
“I used to be strolling again with Aljamain Sterling, and a few man grabbed my shoulder, after which he had a cellphone, and he was filming video,” Dvalishvili advised Ariel Helwani on Tuesday. “He was disrespecting me [in the] Russian language. My Russian just isn’t good. I don’t actually converse Russian. However I do know the unhealthy phrases. He was cursing at me, cursing my household …
“Safety was there. I actually wished to punch his face, however safety additionally realized that he was cursing at me, safety might inform this man was speaking trash, and safety held me. It was so arduous. I’m a person. I’m a fighter. I dwell in a respectful means, and a few silly dumbass disrespects me, after all, I’ll struggle. So I wasn’t in a position to go near the man due to safety, however my good friend bought my again, and he slapped this motherf*cker. …
“Even Umar is sharing footage … He was pleased with this provocative man. Umar was proud. He was supporting some provocative fan who tried to [provoke] me. This additionally exhibits that Umar just isn’t man. If any of my pals or anyone I do know tried to impress Umar or tried to struggle Umar, I might by no means help this. I’ll inform my good friend or whoever, it’s none of your enterprise. You shouldn’t mess with skilled fighters. However Umar was supporting this man.
“I’m a person first. If you happen to come to my face and disrespect me, you’re going to get slapped. Don’t strive that. I’m a person, and I’ll by no means forgive you. Even when I’ve to go to jail, I don’t care. I don’t care [that] I’ve a lot to lose, I don’t care [about] this belt, I don’t care [about] this cash, I don’t care [about] this legacy. I’m a person. I dwell a respectful means.”
Dvalishvili is ready to defend his title in opposition to Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 subsequent month, and issues have already grow to be extraordinarily heated between the 2. On the preliminary press convention final week, Dvalishvili launched into a tirade against his future opponent for his lack of respect. For a second, it even seemed as if the 2 may come to blows, however that finally didn’t occur, and regardless of the occasions of UFC 310, Dvalishvili insists it received’t. At the very least not but.
“Now that I notice he’s actually a bit of shit, I’ll transfer on,” Dvalishvili stated when requested about future points forward of their struggle. “As a result of I don’t need hassle with the UFC. I don’t wish to beat Umar earlier than the struggle as a result of he’ll make excuse and he may cancel this struggle. I’m an organization man, and I can’t do something unhealthy, something that may have an effect on fights. I’m going to disregard these losers. Umar is an efficient fighter, however he’s not man. That’s my drawback.”
Dvalishvili doesn’t have lengthy to carry out. UFC 311 goes down on Jan. 18 on the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. After which, as soon as he handles enterprise contained in the cage, Dvalishvili says he’ll see about taking good care of their beef outdoors of it.
“We’ll see after,” Dvalishvili stated. “He might get a slap after the struggle as a result of the struggle within the octagon just isn’t an actual struggle. It’s a sport. If Umar doesn’t apologize [to] me, it’s going to occur. Even when I’ve to go to Dagestan, I’ll go.
“I really like Dagestan. I’ve so many pals in Dagestan, and I respect Dagestani individuals. They’re good individuals, however Umar made massive mistake with me, and Umar has to pay for this. … I don’t wish to repair this drawback earlier than the struggle, however after the struggle, I’m going to seek out him.”
