Latest news with #MerabDvalishvili
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Mitchell adamant only he can beat Merab Dvalishvili: 'I'm going to shake things up'
ABU DHABI – Bryce Mitchell plans on breathing new life into the UFC bantamweight division. Mitchell (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Said Nurmagomedov (18-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in his return to 135 pounds on July 26 at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Mitchell, who's trained with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the past, thinks the division has hit a stagnant point and is confident that he can make some noise with his arrival. "I think it needs to be spiced up a little bit," Mitchell told MMA Junkie of the bantamweight division. "It just needs somebody like me in there to shake things up, and I can almost promise you I'm going to shake things up. ... They need something exciting right now because let's be honest: Nobody's going to beat Merab. Who's going to beat Merab? You're going to have to call somebody that can beat him because right now literally nobody can beat Merab. So they're going to realize that they need a guy like me. Here I am. Call me!" Could it be expected title challenger Cory Sandhagen? Mitchell was quick to dismiss the No. 1 contender's chances. "Thug Nasty" believes that with his size and grappling credentials, he's the only one who can truly push Dvalishvili. "Cory's going to lose, and that's what's going to happen," Mitchell said. "And you can watch the fight just to watch Cory get beat, but he's not going to win. Nobody's going to beat Merab unless they call somebody who knows how to. I love Merab, Merab's actually a great friend of mine, and I can promise you he's going to beat Cory. It's boring! Nobody wants to watch him win and not fight. Everybody wants to see a fight, and I'm telling you, I'm bringing a fight to this division. "It's going to shake things up. It's actually going to get people interested in this division again because once again, nobody wants to watch Merab win easily. ... I've got the only resume that can even possibly compete with him. All these other fights, I mean I guess it'll be a little bit entertaining because you get to see how Merab wins, but it's not going to be a fight. Cory Sandhagen's going to be fighting for air." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC's Bryce Mitchell adamant only he can beat Merab Dvalishvili
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on Umar Nurmagomedov: 'Where is he now?'
The post Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on Umar Nurmagomedov: 'Where is he now?' appeared first on ClutchPoints. Fresh off a remarkable run as bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili has never shied away from speaking his mind on contenders and the ever-shifting landscape of the UFC's 135-pound division. In a candid recent interview, Dvalishvili set the MMA world abuzz with his pointed assessment of Umar Nurmagomedov, a fighter many believe is a legitimate threat but, according to the champion, hasn't done nearly enough to earn the top billing fans and pundits have thrust upon him. Dvalishvili's Message: 'Experience and Activity Matter' Dvalishvili was clear in drawing a line between the accomplished Petr Yan and the up-and-coming Nurmagomedov, stating, 'Petr Yan is better than Umar because Petr has already had many fights with top fighters. He has more experience. He's constantly active, constantly fighting.' The message: real championship pedigree comes not just from talent and potential but from enduring the crucible of the division's elite, night in and night out. 'Umar… we've only seen him fight against me and Cory. He needs to fight the top guys in the division. Sure, Umar is a good fighter, but he needs to stay busy all the time. Where is he now? Why isn't he fighting?' Dvalishvili pressed, echoing concerns shared by some observers who have watched the Dagestani standout's UFC trajectory stall due to injuries and scheduling woes these past seasons. The roots of this critique trace to what Dvalishvili values most in an opponent: activity and résumé. He sees Yan, who has run the gauntlet of former champions and perennial contenders, as a model of what it means to be at the top. Dvalishvili's take is unfiltered but steeped in respect for the grind, and it is this ethic that has carried him to the top of the sport. While acknowledging Nurmagomedov's skills and the brilliance that saw him rise through various levels of competition, Dvalishvili's central argument hinges on a gap in experience against the division's very best fight after fight. In his view, only by staying 'constantly active' and 'constantly fighting', and not disappearing from the rankings for months at a time, can a fighter truly lay claim to elite status. Of course, reacting to Dvalishvili's assessment, some fans have pointed to Umar's impeccable record and precision inside the Octagon; his victory over Cory Sandhagen and his technical acumen continue to turn heads. But for Merab, the proof is in the longevity and level of opposition. The question he poses, Where is he now?, lands with palpable frustration, alluding to a perceived absence that Dvalishvili believes diminishes any claim to a title shot ahead of more seasoned, more visibly active contenders. Merab Dvalishvili 2025 Fighter of the Year As Dvalishvili's career continues to surge, the MMA world recognized his achievements at the highest level when he won the 2025 Fighter of the Year ESPY. Dvalishvili's run through the bantamweight ranks wasn't just about grinding wins; it was about making statements. His victory was marked by consistency, tenacity, and a willingness to engage with every style and every challenge the division could throw at him. Whether defending his belt against top challengers or calling out those hiding in the shadows, Merab's style was assertive, his pace unrelenting. Winning the Fighter of the Year ESPY marked the first time a bantamweight had seized the award in several years, reaffirming his place not just atop the 135-pound landscape, but in the conversation for the best pound-for-pound athletes in the sport today. Furthermore, this achievement underscores the very argument Merab made about Nurmagomedov. Activity breeds recognition. Staying present, taking on all comers, and facing adversity head-on isn't just the foundation for winning titles, it's the path to capturing the hearts of fans and the respect of peers and pundits alike. As the bantamweight division continues to evolve and contenders jockey for the next shot at gold, Merab Dvalishvili's challenge to Umar Nurmagomedov lingers in the air: 'Where is he now? Why isn't he fighting?' For those who believe in the gospel of activity, the answer is simple. In MMA, as in life, you can only silence the critics by showing up and proving yourself, again and again, on the sport's biggest stage. Related: 5 best light heavyweight UFC fighters ever Related: UFC Abu Dhabi suffers major blow as Evloev vs. Pico pulled from card
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New champ Kayla Harrison tops UFC's 2025 ESPY Award nominees
Nominees for the latest ESPY Awards were announced this past week, and once again MMA will be part of the ceremony. Starting in 2007, ESPN's annual awards show gave out a Best Fighter award, and MMA fighters were grouped with boxers to compete for the prize. In 2019, MMA got its own category, and the past three awards cycles, there's been no pretending. The award, presented by the UFC's current U.S. broadcast partner, is called 'Best UFC Fighter' these days and not 'Best MMA Fighter.' This year, the nominees for that spot go to new women's bantamweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili, former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev and middleweight titleholder Dricus du Plessis. On the boxing side, the nominees are Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk. Take a look at the past ESPY awards for MMA and boxing below. 2024 (Best UFC Fighter) 2023 (Best UFC Fighter) 2022 (Best MMA Fighter) 2021 (Best MMA Fighter) 2019 (Best MMA Fighter) 2018 (Best Fighter) 2017 (Best Fighter) 2016 (Best Fighter) 2015 (Best Fighter) 2014 (Best Fighter) 2013 (Best Fighter) 2012 (Best Fighter) 2011 (Best Fighter) 2010 (Best Fighter) 2009 (Best Fighter) 2008 (Best Fighter) 2007 (Best Fighter)
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Merab Dvalishvili and Tracy Cortez in studio, Alexandre Pantoja, Payton Talbott, UFC 317 reaction and more
Ariel Helwani is BACK ... IN ... YOUR ... LIFE! Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" live from Las Vegas as Ariel and the Boys In The Back react to the monster weekend in combat at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT/7:30 p.m. UK time on Uncrowned and YouTube. Advertisement Monday's stacked lineup from the "Fight Capital of the World" can be seen below. 2:30 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang react . 3:30 p.m. ET: Alexandre Pantoja looks back on his UFC 317 title win over Kai Kara-France and previews his likely next defense against Joshua Van. 4 p.m. ET: Tracy Cortez joins us in-studio following her big win over Viviane Araujo. 4:40 p.m. ET: Payton Talbott checks in after his big pay-per-view rebound over Felipe Lima. 5:05 p.m. ET: UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili stops by in-studio to reflect on the wild weekend Catch all new episodes of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page. To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.
USA Today
21-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 316 'Fight Motion': Harrison, Dvalishvili title wins in super slow motion
Check out the craziest highlights from Newark in super slow motion UFC 316 earlier this month in Newark, N.J., featured some stellar stoppages – and in a rarity, two of them came in title fights. Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) easily took care of former champ Sean O'Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in a rematch with a third-round submission. And massive betting favorite Kayla Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) showed why the confidence was so high in her when she submitted women's 135-pound champ Julianna Peña (13-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the second round – and arguably made it look easier than her past dominance in the PFL when she was fighting 20 pounds heavier. The UFC 316 "Fight Motion" video cameras caught all the highlights in Newark in super slow motion. You can check out the action above.
