John Wood: Body of work why Merab Dvalishvili cuts line for bantamweight GOAT status
John Wood: Body of work why Merab Dvalishvili cuts line for bantamweight GOAT status
John Wood has clarified his comments on UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili being the greatest bantamweight of all time.
Wood told MMA Junkie Radio that if Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, that would make him the greatest bantamweight of all time. Dvalishvili ended up handing Nurmagomedov his first loss, but Wood's statement was met with a lot of criticism considering it was title defense No. 1 for Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili's head coach appeared to retract his claim slightly, but explained what separates "The Machine" from every other bantamweight.
"I was one of the first people to make that statement, and I got my ass chewed out online about it from everybody – and I had the asterisk next to it," Wood told MMA Junkie Radio. "I believe per talent wise of who he's beat, he's already there. If all those guys were title defenses, title challenges, it's no question. If you put a title defense next to all of those guys, it's no question. So, I think that we're going to be able to shortcut the line a little bit by the amount of talent that he's beat already.
"I don't think we're exactly there yet. I believe the title defenses is what really cements your legacy as GOAT status or reaching any of those types of things. I think we need a couple more. We go in and beat O'Malley and then we beat whoever is next there, then I don't think there's any question. Body of work, I'll say I think he has the best body of work out of any fighter in that division pound-for-pound. I think as far as GOAT status, it's very hard to achieve that without those title defenses."
Dvalishvili runs things back with Sean O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 316 main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
25 minutes ago
- Forbes
Amanda Nunes Unretires to Pursue Title, ‘I'm Going To Be Ready'
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: A detail shot of the UFC Legacy Championship Belt during the UFC ... More 241 event at the Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The rumors, teases, and unofficial statements are over. Recently announced UFC Hall-of-Famer Amanda Nunes is returning to the Octagon, and her plan is to challenge the winner of the UFC 316 co-main event to regain her women's bantamweight title. In a Q&A with ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Friday, the eve of UFC 316, Nunes said, "I missed [fighting] so much," Nunes said on Friday. "My baby is big now. She didn't sleep much at night [as a baby] and I was concerned about that because we fighters need sleep. But now, my baby is bigger and I'm ready to go. Kayla [Harrison] or Julianna [Peña], I'm going to be ready." Nunes retired in June 2023 following a successful title defense against Irene Aldana, but many believed she may have been walking away from the sport prematurely. UFC CEO Dana White has made it clear he thought Nunes left too soon. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 10: Amanda Nunes of Brazil announces her retirement after her ... More victory over Irene Aldana of Mexico in their women's bantamweight title fight during the UFC 289 event at Rogers Arena on June 10, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Nunes is unquestionably the greatest female fighter of all time and one of the best ever regardless of gender. Currently, Nunes has a record of 23-5, and that mark includes an unprecedented run as the UFC's bantamweight and featherweight champion. From March 2015 through 2023, Nunes went 14-1, including a 12-fight win streak. Nunes' lone loss during her dominant stretch came against Peña. The current champion defeated Nunes via second-round submission at UFC 269 to win the title. Nunes regained the title with a unanimous decision victory in their rematch. Peña wanted a trilogy fight and notoriously booed Nunes as the latter placed her gloves in the center of the Octagon back in 2023 when the Lioness walked away from the sport. As it turns out, Peña could get another crack at her rival. She has a massive test on her hands on Saturday in New Jersey. Harrison, an Olympic gold medalist and former Professional Fighters League champion, is vying to become the first woman to win titles with both organizations. Harrison has been pretty dominant in her two fights in the UFC, with a stoppage win over Holly Holm and a unanimous decision victory over Ketlen Vieira to earn the title shot. Harrison's biggest issues have seemingly been just making weight. She's never missed weight, but has looked worse for wear each time. Friday was no exception, as the world-class athlete looked massively depleted on the scales but rejuvenated later that evening during the ceremonial weigh-ins. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 06: (L-R) Opponents Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison face off during the ... More UFC 316 ceremonial weigh-in at Prudential Center on June 06, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) In any case, Nunes will be in the house at the Prudential Center to likely face off with the winner. It wouldn't be a shock to see Nunes vs. the winner scheduled for the November pay-per-view in New York. Here is a look at the entire UFC 316 card.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos canceled after Davis' massive weight miss, Abdullah Mason to headline
Keyshawn Davis' fight with Edwin De Los Santos has been canceled just 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place. Tipping the scales at 139.3 pounds, Davis was more than 4 pounds over the 135-pound lightweight championship limit at Friday's official weigh-in and was thusly stripped of his WBO lightweight world title. His opponent, Edwin De Los Santos, weighed in at 134.7 pounds, successfully making weight. Advertisement Davis' and De Los Santos' teams then attempted to negotiate a deal Friday afternoon after the weight miss, which would've allowed the fight to take place. A six-figure compensation amount for De Los Santos, as well as a rehydration clause, was discussed between the teams, however an agreement couldn't be reached, and therefore the bout has been scrapped at the eleventh hour. The ESPN-televised show at Davis' hometown Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday will still go ahead, however with Abdullah Mason's lightweight bout against Jeremia Nakathila upgraded to the main event. Kelvin Davis, the brother of Keyshawn, will now open the show on ESPN against Nahir Albright. Advertisement Uncrowned will bring you live round-by-round coverage of the main card. As a result of Friday's developments, the WBO lightweight championship will now become vacant. Unbeaten prospects Sam Noakes and Mason, who are the WBO's No. 1 and No. 2-ranked contenders at lightweight, will likely be ordered to vie for the vacant championship. In an interview after missing weight, Davis indicated that his days at lightweight are over. '[I've] been making this weight for over four years now. I just outgrew the weight," Davis told Top Rank's Crystina Poncher. "I tried [making weight]. I was up late last night. I woke up early this morning, trying to make the weight. I just outgrew the weight. I was feeling it the last time I was fighting [Denys] Berinchyk — I thank God that I made it. Y'all don't know how I was [feeling] making it. But hey, it is what it is.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Thanks to the trolls! Bleach blond Mostert takes pole
Newly dyed blond Chaz Mostert wants to thank the internet trolls for powering him to pole position for the opening Supercars sprint in Perth. Sporting the bleached hair at Wanneroo Raceway, Mostert blitzed the pack by 0.083 seconds to snare the top spot for the first of two 120km races on Saturday. He leads a front row lockout by Walkinshaw Andretti United, joined by young teammate Ryan Wood. Wood snared a maiden pole for Saturday's second sprint, followed by Tickford ace Cam Waters and third-fastest Broc Feeney. Mostert claimed his first pole of the season and career No.26 with a lap time of 53.6858 seconds. Brodie Kostecki was third-fastest and will share the second row with championship leader Feeney. With only one win to his name this year, Mostert will be out to reignite his championship hunt. The 33-year-old is fifth in the standings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walkinshaw Andretti United (@walkinshawandrettiunited) Asked by Fox Sports what had changed for him between the last round in Tasmania and Perth, Mostert said: "The simple work is, there's a few internet trolls out there that basically say you're done since you have a kid and a wife. "They say you lose two-tenths (of a second), so I'm glad to show that you can find two-tenths by having a kid and a wife. "Thanks to trolls out there. Appreciate youse." But Mostert did not enjoy the same pace in qualifying for Race 15, missing out on the top 10 by 0.0128 seconds. New Zealand's Wood broke through for pole position at the same place he claimed his first Super2 win, setting a lap time of 53.896 seconds. The 21-year-old outpaced Waters by 0.2578. "It's (Perth) just so far away from anything, so it feels like home," Wood joked. Fellow Kiwi and Grove Racing driver Payne qualified fifth and fourth respectively. The first 120km race in Perth gets underway at 2.55pm (AEST). RACE 14 QUALIFYING RESULTS: 1. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United) 2. Ryan Wood (WAU) 3. Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing) 4. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering) 5. Matt Payne (Grove Racing) RACE 15 QUALIFYING RESULTS: 1. Ryan Mostert (WAU) 2. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing) 3. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight) 4. Matt Payne (Grove) 5. Thomas Randle (Tickford)
