Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Umar Nurmagomedov Reveals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Inspiring Message After UFC 311 Loss to Merab Dvalishvili

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Umar Nurmagomedov, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin and a bantamweight contender, entered UFC 311 as a rising star in the bantamweight division, boasting an 18-0 record and a reputation for slick striking and elite grappling. As the betting favorite against champion Merab Dvalishvili, Nurmagomedov was expected to extend the Nurmagomedov family’s legacy by capturing the 135-pound title. However, despite his early dominance, Umar ultimately fell short in a unanimous decision loss on January 2025, at the Intuit Dome, marking the first defeat of his pro MMA career.

🚨 Umar Nurmagomedov on his loss to Merab:

“I lost and that’s that.”

“I rewatched the fight, the 4th/5th rounds, I gave those up. I really did, I lost them. It’s clear.”

“But the 3rd, thats up to the judges, that’s how it is. The broken hand played a part.”

via @AdamZubayraev pic.twitter.com/NrUmzYeyM9
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) June 15, 2025

The fight was extremely close, far tighter than the 2 fights against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 and UFC 316. Nurmagomedov’s sharp combinations and takedown defense was what stood out in the first two rounds, with a right hand briefly wobbling the champ. However, one thing we know about Merab by now is his intense cardio which seems to be the best amongst any fighter in the UFC, his relentless pace, and his record-breaking takedowns, surpassing Georges St- Pierre’s UFC record. Despite a broken hand which hindered Umar’s performance, it was some of the best bantamweight clashes we had seen in a while. Dvalishvili’s insane cardio and his never-give-up attitude got him the win, but Umar’s performance proved that he is here to stay and is one of the elites in his division.

Zlatan’s Message and Umar’s Next Steps

Post-fight, Umar received an unexpected boost from soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who made sure to send him an inspiring message which said, “I’ve seen your fights, don’t give up. Everything’s ahead of you. You’re still young, you’ve got everything in front of you. Keep training.” Umar may have been shocked to know that Ibrahimovic knew about his career, but the soccer legend in big into MMA world. Previously, Zlatan gave an accurate prediction of Khabib’s win over Conor McGregor, and he also shares some experience in Taekwondo.

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Umar’s career is far from over, and he is only 29 years old. Despite the setback, his performance against Dvalishvili showcased his potential as a future champion. Umar, backed by Khabib’s mentorship, is currently managing his hand injury and refining his game. A rematch with Dvalishvili has been getting a lot of hype lately, but even a bout against top contenders could put him right back in the title picture, as he plans to claim the bantamweight belt.

UFC

Umar Nurmagomedov

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Eric Divakaran

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