Sometimes in the fight game, even the closest of bonds can be tested. For Merab Dvalishvili, surrounding his title defense at UFC 311, were talks of betrayal. His former training partner, Magdi Amachov found himself at the center of the storm after choosing to train with ‘Team Khabib’ and Umar Nurmgamedov before the bantamweight title clash.

Their friendship was built in the trenches—both training and living together in Las Vegas when Amachov first arrived in the United States. But the news of Amachov training with Dvalishvili’s rivals sparked accusations of betrayal from some corners, giving the already fierce rivalry an extra edge. However, according to Amachov, while drama brews on the outside, the truth is far more layered and nuanced.

Magdi Amachov finally speaks out on the situation between him and Merab Dvalishvili after UFC 311  

According to a post shared on X by Georgian Reporter, Giorgi Kokiashvili, who shared a picture of the two with the caption, “Magdi Amachov is helping Umar Nurmagomedov to prepare for Merab Dvalishvili. Merab helped Magdi to live like a human being in the US. He didn’t have a home, and Merab gave him a room for free in his own house and helped a lot. It’s just sad.”

As such, Amachov’s decision to train with ‘Team Khabib’ led to a lot of backlash in the MMA sphere. After all, Nurmagomedov’s camp is a direct competitor to Dvalishvili’s team, especially with the stakes so high—both for the bantamweight title and their friendship. But UFC 311 saw Merab Dvalishvili retain his belt with a unanimous decision win over ‘The Young Eagle’.

So does this mean that all is well between Amachov and ‘The Machine’? During a recent interview with Ushaytaka on YouTube, Amachov shed some more light on the situation.

He bluntly stated, “He was a close person for me and he remains a close person depite the fact that there is even… For example, I am for him, if suddenly he, is like, well if he is like that, probably he will not consider it anymore. I just don’t know how a person feels from the inside but for me, he will always remain a close person. I’m not going to forget that, inshallah. I won’t forget what he did for me when I just arrived in Vegas and everything.”

These words carry weight. Amachov’s respect for Dvalishvili is clearly unwavering, despite the difficult circumstances. Even the bantamweight champion had stated in an interview with ‘The Schmo’ when the MMA sphere was in a frenzy, “That’s his country, that’s his friends. I mean, I will not do that, but I will also not judge him. I love him, and I understand this, and I’m not mad at him. That’s OK.”

It’s a rare moment of grace in a sport often defined by rivalry and hard feelings. Merab Dvalishvili’s ability to separate personal emotions from professional decisions speaks to his character, a trait that defines him both inside and outside the Octagon. So, what’s next for the champion now that he has defended his crown against the man many considered to be his toughest challenge?

‘The Machine’ reveals his injuries ahead of UFC 311 and puts Sean O’Malley on alert

The UFC 311 bantamweight title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov was a showcase of elite MMA wrestling and cardio. While Nurmagomedov fought with a suspected broken hand, Dvalishvili fought through even more intense adversity. How? In the post-fight press conference, he confessed, “I broke my back in training camp and it was some days I cannot get up from the bed. I was laid down and I don’t have a training camp and I don’t have a Khabib Nurmagomedov to help me to train.”

But ‘The Machine’s performance at UFC 311 didn’t display any signs of him being compromised. Although ‘The Young Eagle’ started off strong, Dvalishvili’s inhuman cardio and pace ended up being too much for the young Dagestani fighter to handle. So, now that he has ended Umar Nurmagomedov’s undefeated MMA record, what does the future hold for the champion?

Dvalishvili stated, “But I think I beat everybody in this division, but we’ll see whoever is the next best challenge. I think also [Sean] O’Malley, he was complaining about something and he really has a chance.”

The Georgian hasn’t lost a fight since 2018 and whether it’s a rematch with Sean O’Malley or another challenger like Petr Yan, the next chapter for the champion promises to be just as thrilling as the last. Will the bantamweight division finally find someone capable of dethroning him, or is he destined to reign supreme till he walks away from the sport? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!