Javier Mendez couldn’t believe the pace Merab
Dvalishvili set at UFC 311.
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Mendez’s pupil, Umar
Nurmagomedov, challenged Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title
in the co-main event at UFC 311.
Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood,
predicted that the champ would have a hard couple of rounds and
take over as the fight progressed. It played out exactly like that,
with Nurmagomedov just being unable to keep pace with the champ
despite being highly skilled. Dvalishvili took away Nurmagomedov’s
perfect record and defended his title with a unanimous decision
win.
While Nurmagomedov also broke his hand in the opening round, Mendez
isn’t taking anything away from Dvalishvili. The
American Kickboxing Academy head coach was awed by
Dvalishvili’s gas tank as the fight progressed. However, Mendez
also notes that “The Machine’s” showmanship in the last round could
have slightly influenced the judges’ scorecards.
“He [Nurmagomedov] didn’t get to perform with a broken hand. With a
broken hand and a great champion on the other end — with
unbelievable cardio that I have never ever seen in my life,” Mendez
told Submission Radio. “I have never seen anybody with that kind of
cardio, take shots the way he did and keep getting stronger as the
rounds went on. I am like, ‘What am I looking at?’ And a showman.
Because in the fifth round I thought we were ahead points wise. But
he showed himself like the champ. He acted like the champ while
Umar was struggling even to get up.”
Mendez also revealed that Nurmagomedov didn’t inform his corner
about the broken hand. Mendez says he would have changed his game
plan to a more kick-heavy approach if he knew about the injury.