After Rose Namajunas Agrees to Valentina Shevchenko Fight, Dana White Ruthlessly Calls Out Aljamain Sterling & Merab Dvalishvli’s Stance on Fighting Each Other

Merab Dvalishvili looks to be in supreme form. The Georgian fighter is currently riding on a 9-win streak in the UFC with his last victory against Petr Yan at the UFC Fight Night Event on March 12th. The #2 ranked Bantamweight fighter is more than eligible for a title shot, according to many. However, there is one champion he wouldn’t fight. And the UFC president Dana White doesn’t like that.

‘The Machine’s friendship with Aljamain Sterling is very well-known in the UFC world. The two have repeatedly vocalized that they are not going to fight with each other, citing their friendship as a reason. Much to the dismay of Dana White, this seems to be a rigid decision as well. But recently, White took to Instagram to throw shots at the duo. Although he did not directly name them, he shared a photo that might just be a dig at the former Bantamweight Champion and his friend.

Dana White throws shade at the Sterling-Dvalishvili duo

In a recent interview, former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas spoke out about fighting Valentina Shevchenko. The ‘Thug’s friendship with Shevchenko stood as a possible point of contention for their fight. Namajunas had previously expressed her apprehension at facing the ‘Bullet’. However, in a recent interview, she shared her take on what she feels about the situation. Speaking about Shevchenko, ‘Thug’ said, “I adore Valentina, I really do appreciate what she’s done for me.”

She continued, “If we were to ever fight, I would just have the approach of ‘Hey man, we basically went to war in the gym for I don’t know how many months for free. So, if we can make some money and inspire some people in the process, then I’d be all down for it’.” Dana White shared this image. However, in a move that can be seen as a dig at the ‘Funkmaster’, he captioned it, “This is exactly what your mindset should be when you are a pro. Much respect Rose.”

The ‘Funkmaster’s stance on fighting his friend

Sterling has previously addressed his refusal to fight Dvalishvili. He also notably talked about White in this regard. He said, “he’s gonna try to make the matchups that the fans wanna see.” The ‘Funkmaster’ also indicated that fighting his friend Dvalishvili for the amount that they are getting paid right now wouldn’t be a viable proposition. Crossing “that type of line” seems to be a prospect that the former Champion is least interested in, at least with regard to his current monetary compensation.

Read More: “Why the Need for Proving”: Fans Up in Arms Against Dana White and Co. Days After the UFC Boss Lashes Out at Merab Dvalishvili for Not Wanting to Fight “Friend” Aljamain Sterling for Title

Merab Dvalishvili has notably taken a similar stance on fighting Sterling. He has also defended Sterling on many occasions. Recently, after the ‘Funkmaster’s loss to Sean O’Malley, ‘The Machine’ blamed the result on an early stoppage, a view that many fans share as well. While it is nice to witness a strong bond between fighters, Dana White’s comments ask for re-evaluating friendships in the line of duty. What do you think? Was Dana White right in calling out the duo? Let us know in the comments below.

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