The bantamweight division in the UFC has always been a hotbed of talent and drama. Champions come and go, but the queue of hungry contenders never seems to shrink. Right now, Merab Dvalishvili sits at the top of this chaotic food chain, wearing the 135-pound belt with pride. But being a champion means the work never stops, and every fighter in the division wants what you have.
Fresh off his reign at the top, Merab Dvalishvili is already eyeing his next challenge. But here’s the twist that nobody saw coming. Instead of looking at the obvious contenders breathing down his neck, the Georgian champion has his sights set on someone who just scraped through a split decision win.
At UFC Rio, Deiveson Figueiredo managed to edge out a narrow split-decision victory against Montel Jackson. The former two-time flyweight champion got emotional after the win, and rightfully so. He had been on a rough two-fight losing streak, and this victory meant everything to him. Without wasting a second, Figueiredo grabbed the mic and called out Merab Dvalishvili for a title shot.
Now, most champions might brush off such a callout, especially after a less-than-convincing performance. But not Merab Dvalishvili. ‘The Machine’ took to social media and responded with genuine enthusiasm. He congratulated Figueiredo on beating a top opponent and straight-up said he’s waiting for him.
“Congratulations @DDeusdaguerra ! Great performance against a top opponent! I’m waiting for you #UFCRIo”
Merab Dvalishvili even pointed out that a fight with Figueiredo would be fresh since every other top-five contender would be a rematch at this point. At 37 years old, Figueiredo is defying the usual fighter trajectory, and Dvalishvili seems genuinely excited about the prospect of facing him.
Deiveson Figueiredo currently sits at number six in the bantamweight rankings. Above him, there are some serious names who have been putting in work and waiting for their shot. Umar Nurmagomedov holds the #2 spot. He is scheduled to fight against Mario Bautista in November. Petr Yan, a former champion himself, sits at #3 and definitely has unfinished business in the division. Dvalishvili has fought and won against both these fighters. But rankings still matter. Then there’s Song Yadong at #5, another fighter who could make a strong case for a title opportunity.
So when ‘The Machine’ showed interest in fighting the #6 ranked contender who just scraped by with a split decision against an unranked opponent, eyebrows naturally go up. Many believe Figueiredo’s performance in Rio didn’t warrant a title shot, and they are worried Dvalishvili would simply maul the Brazilian veteran without even breaking a sweat. The skills gap might be too significant.
From a purely sporting perspective, fighters like Nurmagomedov, Yan and even Mario Bautista have stronger claims to the next title shot. They have been more dominant and consistent in their recent performances. But UFC politics don’t always follow pure meritocracy. Figueiredo is a decorated former champion with name recognition, and Dana White loves giving fan favorite fighters opportunities. Plus, Merab needs an opponent quick, and he’s not planning to move divisions anytime soon.
(Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images)
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