“Umar is a strong fighter. He called me old. Yes, I am old, but I train every day. I believe that through hard work and self-belief, anything is possible,” Merab Dvalishvili told journalists after defending his UFC Bantamweight Championship belt.
The 34-year-old Georgian champion expressed gratitude to his fans:
“Thank you to my fans, and all Georgians. I love you all! You know I never stop and am always training. But when I agreed to the fight six weeks ago, I was injured. My leg was hurt, and I had stitches, but I knew the UFC needed me.
“Umar is a strong fighter. He called me old. Yes, I’m old, but I train every day. I believe that through hard work and self-belief, anything is possible.
“The whole world was against me. I wasn’t the favorite, but that doesn’t matter—I believe in myself,” Dvalishvili said.
Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his UFC Bantamweight Championship belt, defeating Umar Nurmagomedov, who fights under the Russian flag. Merab won the title in September 2024 by defeating Sean O’Malley. His MMA record stands at 19 wins and 4 losses, with this victory marking his 12th consecutive win. For Umar Nurmagomedov, this was the first loss in his MMA career, as he previously held an undefeated record of 18 wins.
Related story: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Umar Nurmagomedov, defends UFC Championship belt
