Merab Dvalishvili is eager to face off against Henry Cejudo, despite allegations of avoiding the fight.
Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) released a video on his YouTube channel, accusing Dvalishvili of refusing to face his teammate Aljamain Sterling when Sterling was the bantamweight champion.
Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is the top contender, and even after Sterling lost his title to Sean O’Malley, it seems that Dvalishvili will not get the opportunity to fight for the title. O’Malley intends to have a rematch with Marlon Vera for his first title defense.
“You fail to understand or appreciate the entertainment value,” Cejudo expressed to Dvalishvili. “Imagine I was Dana White. You don’t want to fight Aljamain Sterling. You two are buddies. Now you’re his subordinate. It doesn’t make sense to me. I would fight any of my friends for the belt.”
Former UFC dual-champion Cejudo believes that the only way Dvalishvili can earn a title shot is by fighting him.
“It seems like the UFC doesn’t have much regard for you, based on what I’m hearing,” Cejudo remarked. “So, you have a couple of options. One, you wait and wither away, and the UFC might decide to cut you off altogether and prevent you from ever fighting again. Or, you can fight ‘Triple C’… If you conquer someone like me, then you’ll have more leverage.”
Dvalishvili responded to Cejudo via “X”, stating that he is more than willing to fight him.
“Hey Henry Cejudo, first of all, put respect on my name,” Dvalishvili said. “Stop your bullshit disrespect. You may be humbled again. Next, fake news. There is no contract. What should I sign? Since Sean O’Malley doesn’t want the smoke with real contenders and of course, the UFC gives their boy what he wants, I’m not going to sit around and wait. I’m going to fight with you. I’m here, ready to go.”
Hey @HenryCejudo first of all put respect on my name. there is no contract!What should I sign? Since Sean O’malley doesn’t want the smoke of a real contender and the UFC gives their boy what he wants,I will fight you. I am not sitting around waiting. I’m here and ready to go.👊🦾 pic.twitter.com/fHCcxNlRqK
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) October 11, 2023
Dvalishvili currently boasts a nine-fight winning streak, having secured victories over former champions Jose Aldo and Petr Yan. Cejudo returned to the UFC after a hiatus of nearly three years to challenge then-champion Sterling at UFC 288 in May but narrowly lost in a split decision.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
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