Merab Dvalishvili argues that Deiveson Figueiredo is a extra worthy No. 1 contender than Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) within the UFC 306 important occasion Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas. The principle card airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews.
UFC CEO Dana White mentioned Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will get the subsequent title shot towards the winner of O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili following his UFC on ABC 7 important occasion win over Cory Sandhagen in August, however not less than one aspect of the struggle doesn’t see him as deserving.
Dvalishvili makes the case former flyweight champ Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) has a superior resume to Nurmagomedov since shifting as much as 135 kilos.
“Deiveson Figueiredo deserves to struggle for the belt,” Dvalishvili instructed MMA Junkie. “He beat one former champion on this weight class and one title challenger, and he beat Rob Font. And Figueiredo is former champion, and he has huge identify, and he deserves.
“Umar, he solely beat Cory Sandhagen from prime 15. Just one man he beat from prime 15 and why he need to struggle for the belt? I’m not saying – even when I’d be champion, he has to struggle Sean O’Malley. I don’t suppose he deserves to struggle for the belt, you already know. That’s my opinion.”
Since shifting as much as bantamweight, former flyweight champion Figueiredo has defeated Font, former champion Cody Garbrandt, and most lately former title challenger Marlon Vera.
In the meantime, Nurmagomedov went from ending unranked Raoni Barcelos to beating Bekzat Almakhan to outlasting Sandhagen in his first octagon headliner.
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