MMA logic is sorta like MMA math.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili’s head coach, John Wood, claims “there’s a lot of debate on whether Umar deserves the title shot” in the UFC 311 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. That supports the argument that Nurmagomedov’s rise to the top has more to do with his last name than his in-cage accomplishments.
Wood also claims that beating Umar makes Merab the greatest bantamweight in history.
“Merab goes out and beats Umar, which I believe he will, I think there’s no question that he’s the bantamweight GOAT,” Wood told Inside Fighting. “And had all those guys that he beat been title defenses, I think that question is … it’s not even a question now. So I think we’re looking at the next bantamweight GOAT here shortly.”
Expect Dvalishvili to be both “motivated” and “emotional” on fight night.
“That is part of the process that we get into,” Wood continued. “This one, there’s been a little more emotion to it as far as he feels a little disrespected that he is the champion and that this guy … there’s a lot of debate on whether Umar deserves the title shot, Umar deserves jumping up and taking it.”
Umar is currently the odds-on betting favorite.
The 28 year-old Nurmagomedov improved to 18-0 by defeating Cory Sandhagen atop the UFC Abu Dhabi fight card last August. As for Dvalishvili, 33, he bumped his record to 18-4 — and captured the 135-pound crown — with a dominant performance over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside Sphere last fall.
To see who else is fighting at UFC 311 click here.
