There’s no question that Merab
Dvalishvili is one of the top contenders in the Ultimate
Fighting Championship’s bantamweight division.
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However, a grinding victory over Jose Aldo on
the UFC 278 main card — his seventh straight at 135 pounds — didn’t
do much to raise Dvalishvili’s stock in the eyes of the fans or the
promotion. According to UFC president Dana White, the Serra-Longo
Fight Team export didn’t make the most of his opportunity on
Saturday night.
“First of all, I love Jose. I don’t want to s—t on Jose. But Jose
had zero offense tonight. And Merab didn’t go after it like a guy
that looks like he wants to fight for the title,” White said at the
UFC 278 post-event press conference. “And when asked the question
about his friend holding the title and what did he want to do, he
never really answered the question.
“I always say this: We’re the bells and whistles guys. We lay it
out there for him, we give him the opportunity to shine, and it’s
up to you to get out there and do it. That didn’t happen
tonight.”
Dvalishvili deserves at least some credit for limiting Aldo’s
offense thanks to relentless forward pressure and an unyielding
committment to his wrestling. While Aldo denied all 16 of his
opponent’s takedown attempts, Dvalishvili’s approach kept the
Brazilian on his heels for the majority of their three-round
encounter. Nonetheless, Dvalishvili admitted that he wasn’t
completely satisfied with his performance.
“Of course, I wanted a more exciting fight and I wanted to take him
down,” Dvalishvili said at the post-fight press conference. “But he
was good, and it was hard to time him and take him down. Against
the cage, he was good. He was defending my takedown good. Also, I
didn’t want to spend too much energy because I wanted to be ready
for a strike. But this is the fight game. I kept it against the
wall, and I was winning the fight comfortable. It’s his job to move
and do something because I was winning the fight.”
While White wasn’t pleased with what he perceived to be a
non-answer from Dvalishvili regarding a potential title shot, “The
Machine” has been clear that he isn’t interested as long as
teammate Aljamain
Sterling is champion. He reiterated that sentiment on Saturday
night, along with expressing confidence that there are plenty of
interesting alternative options in the division.
“I believe there are so many fights left for me,” Dvalishvili said.
“There are so many. Our division is the most exciting. There are so
many young guys, former champions. Henry
Cejudo is coming back. Actually, Aljo has to beat them – the
former champions.
“Monday, I’ll be back in the gym helping Aljo. He helped me in this
training camp in the gym, weight cut, everything. We have a big
fight. Aljo is fighting for the title against a cheater, and we
have to beat T.J.
Dillashaw together.”
Regardless, White wanted to see a little more from Dvalishvili with
so much on the line.
“When you’re on a card like this, the place is packed like this,
and you want to make a statement in that division, you go for it,”
White said. “And I get it – he’s fighting Jose Aldo, and
whatever. I don’t think Merab did himself a lot of favors.”