Kamaru Usman believes Umar Nurmagomedov is the perfect opponent to elevate UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili’s profile.
Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dethroned Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to claim the bantamweight title in a dominant decision win in Saturday’s UFC 306 headliner at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Even though the camera panned to Nurmagomedov during his post-fight octagon interview, Dvalishvili refused to acknowledge him. He insists Deiveson Figueiredo is the more worthy contender.
Usman pointed to his rivalry with Colby Covington, which brought out the best of him. He thinks Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) could do the same for Dvalishvili.
“Merab is not afraid, but I know he’s worried about a guy like Umar, and sometimes those are the guys that really put you on that next level,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “Merab might come out there and look like freaking the best we’ve ever seen.
“So I needed that dance partner. Colby Covington gave me that, and so that’s what Merab – at this point, I think if I had any advice for Merab, it’s to embrace that. It’s to embrace that. You’re right. When they did ask him that question, he kind of danced around it.”
Henry Cejudo suggests Nurmagomedov is bad news for Dvalishvili.
“Merab knows. Merab has a respect for Umar, and I personally just think he’s in trouble,” Cejudo said. “With all due respect, I respect the fact that one, he beat me, and then two, that he came on our show. But if you don’t fight a guy like Umar, the UFC is going to make you fight a guy like Umar. Your career as a champ is pretty much done.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.
