Merab Dvalishvili doesn't think Umar Nurmagomedov deserves to be in the UFC bantamweight title picture yet.
Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) requested that his previously scrapped booking with Cory Sandhagen be rescheduled after defeating newcomer Bexat Almakhan at UFC Fight Night 238 earlier this month .
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who is on a 10-fight winning streak, would have rather seen Nurmagomedov climb the ladder like he needed to. He believes it is too early for Nurmagomedov to be involved in these title talks.
“There's a guy from Dagestan. He's a good fighter, but he won't fight anyone,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie. “He fought someone from his debut and now he wants to fight for the belt. That's not how it works. I think it's very disrespectful. There are other guys who have long winning streaks. There are and he has to fight them.
“Then you fight someone in the top 10, then you fight in the top five, then you fight for the belt. You don't fight anybody, but now you want to fight for the belt? He's a good guy, I like him, I respect him, but he talks trash about himself and he talks trash about everyone. He's calling out top fighters. He's a good fighter, but come on, brother. You have to fight against the good guys.”
Dvalishvili was dubbed the No. 1 contender after defeating former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Nurmagomedov is undefeated, but Dvalishvili says it was difficult to gauge how good he was.
“No one knows whether you are a good fighter or not. You have not been tested yet,” Dvalishvili continued. “You fought a debutant. Come on.”
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