Umar Nurmagomedov is keeping his focus sharp ahead of UFC 321 — and he believes Merab Dvalishvili already knows what’s coming if they meet again.
This Saturday at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov faces Mario Bautista in a crucial bantamweight showdown. It’s a pivotal fight for both contenders: Nurmagomedov is aiming to rebound after his title loss to Dvalishvili earlier this year, while Bautista could earn his first-ever shot at gold with a win.
Despite their heated history, Nurmagomedov insists there’s no bad blood — only unfinished business.
“If you ask him, I think he will say, ‘He has to fight 10 times until he wins 10,’” Nurmagomedov said during UFC 321 media day. “It’s just his opinion, but reality is going to be different. He knows what’s going to happen next time.”
Their first meeting at UFC 311 was a grueling five-round battle that ended in a unanimous decision win for Dvalishvili. The Georgian champion has since defended his title twice more, including victories over Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen, and will next meet Petr Yan in a rematch at UFC 323 on December 6.
Still, Nurmagomedov believes a second fight between them is inevitable — and much closer than critics think.
“Everybody knows why he’s talking like this,” Nurmagomedov added. “He knows it was very close, and everybody saw it.”
When asked whether Dvalishvili is avoiding a rematch, Nurmagomedov shrugged off the idea.
“It’s his business. He can do whatever he wants,” he said. “Even if he tries to avoid, I don’t want to wait. I want to be active. I want to fight.”
Looking ahead, Nurmagomedov hopes to return to action in early 2026, regardless of whether a rematch materializes immediately.
“If we both win, it’s a very interesting fight for the fans,” he said. “But I don’t want to wait too long. I want to fight in January or February. We’ll see what the UFC decides.”
As the bantamweight division continues to heat up, a rematch between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov could become one of 2026’s most anticipated showdowns.
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