Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) celebrates after winning a UFC bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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‘You Will Never Hear Excuses From Him’ – Merab Dvalishvilli’s Coach Bashes The Nurmagomedov Camp For Making Excuses After Title Fight

Merab Dvalishvili’s coach accuses the Nurmagomedov team of refusing to accept defeat with grace!

The UFC bantamweight division has become UFC’s hotbed of excitement in recent years. Once overlooked in favor of heavier weight classes, these 135-pound warriors now consistently deliver the most thrilling contests in the promotion. Merab Dvalishvili captured the title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in a dominant performance that shocked many observers.

His first defense came quickly, facing the undefeated Dagestani phenom Umar Nurmagomedov in January at UFC 311. The matchup pitted Dvalishvili’s relentless pace against Nurmagomedov’s technical grappling pedigree in what many considered a nightmare stylistic challenge for the champion. But he got the win in a dominant fashion, and this came with an “injury” update from Nurmagomedov as well.

Also Read: Jon Jones Questions UFC’s Silence On Plans He Communicated Long Ago!

Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach Reveals The Hidden Battle Before The Fight

While talking to MMA Fighting, Dvalishvili’s head coach John Wood revealed that the Georgian champion nearly didn’t make it to the cage for his first title defense. He also targeted Team Nurmagomedov for coming up with excuses after losing the fight.

“They asked for the fight and [they came out] ‘Oh I’m injured, I’m this, I’m that.’ Well, Merab was half-dead for that fight. You don’t understand, he had an open wound, he had a staph infection, he was on all kinds of antibiotics. I personally, if it was up to me honestly, I probably would have pulled him out of the fight. I honestly would have…“I will tell you this, if Merab ever loses that belt, you will not hear excuses from him.”

Merab Dvalishvili’s coach reveals he nearly pulled him from Umar Nurmagomedov fight:

"Merab was half-dead. … He had an open wound, he had a staph infection, he was on all kinds of antibiotics."

(🎥 @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/hFl27QXFmN
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 19, 2025

What makes this disclosure particularly interesting is its timing. After Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision, Nurmagomedov’s team pointed to a broken hand suffered during the fight as a major factor in the loss. This clearly struck a nerve with Wood, who didn’t hold back his frustration.

The contrast in attitudes between the two camps highlights different philosophies about fighting. Wood emphasized that regardless of outcome, Merab Dvalishvili refuses to make excuses. This mentality seems particularly pointed given that former champion Sean O’Malley cited a hip injury after losing to Dvalishvili.

The fight itself showcased Dvalishvili’s remarkable conditioning as he weathered early pressure from Nurmagomedov before gradually taking control in the championship rounds. He ragdolled the undefeated fighter to win the decision. With a rematch against O’Malley scheduled for UFC 316 on June 7, ‘The Machine’ is now ready to cement his name in the bantamweight greats!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez -Imagn Images)

Merab Dvalishvili

UFC 311

Umar Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!