The drama in the UFC bantamweight division is heating up and the latest episode feels more like a chess match than an outright brawl. The players? Sean O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan, and the looming figure of Umar Nurmagomedov. The stakes involve the next challenger for the coveted UFC gold and ‘Suga’ has now put the champion on blast!

It all started in UFC Macau, where Petr Yan triumphed over Deiveson Figueiredo, wasting no time in calling out his former foe, Dvalishvili. The Georgian responded eagerly, floating the idea of a March rematch. For some, this seemed like business as usual. But for others, including O’Malley, it sent alarm bells ringing.

Merab Dvalishvili gets blasted by Sean O’Malley for being “terrified” of Umar Nurmagomedov  

Sean O’Malley, never one to mince words, didn’t hold back in the latest episode of the ‘Timbo Sugar Show’ podcast as he stated, “Umar wants to fight Merab in January… Merab is absolutely s—- himself terrified of Umar, he doesn’t want to fight Umar, now he’s saying he wants to fight Petr, he wanted to fight me… it is what it is.” O’Malley claimed Merab was “terrified” of Umar, choosing to pivot towards more familiar foes like Yan instead.

The Georgian had faced off against ‘No Mercy’ back in 2023 where he secured a unanimous decision win over the former champion. The pointed remark landed like a jab, raising questions about Dvalishvili’s intentions. Adding fuel to the fire, O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, shared his take. Though careful with his words, Welch hinted, “Think of how exciting and lit the division would be, if Merab wasn’t a part of it?”

Umar Nurmagomedov, fresh off a dominant win over Cory Sandhagen, has also been vocal about his frustration with Dvalishvili seemingly ‘ducking’ him. But according to ‘The Machine’, who had to go on a 10-fight winning streak before getting a title shot against O’Malley, the Dagestani hasn’t done enough to deserve a chance to fight for the belt.

But is Dvalishvili really ducking Nurmagomedov? Or is this just smart matchmaking in a sport that often doubles as a business? While the debate rages on in the background, the ‘beef’ between the champion and the ‘Young Eagle’ has recently gotten even more intense with salvos being fired from both sides on social media!

Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov’s feud takes a turn on social media as accusations of “dirty games” thrown around

Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili, each with a fire in their belly and something to prove, have turned the talks of a fight between them into a heated saga. Umar, the heir to the Nurmagomedov fighting dynasty, sits poised as the rightful heir to a title shot. And in a recent post on X, after Dvalishvili indicated that he’d like to fight Petr Yan next instead of him, ‘Young Eagle’ fired off by stating, “A coward will always find an excuse for his retreat” – Georgian proverb”

But Dvalishvili isn’t one to back down. His response was sharp, personal, and packed with emotion. He responded by stating, “This is why I lost respect for Umar and Ali a long time ago. They play dirty games and write stupid sh— disrespecting my country and my people. Keep this same energy when I see you in person – see what happens.”

Nurmagomedov, unshaken, fired back with precision as he warned the champion, “Do not drag your country or nation into a personal conflict with me. When you meet me in person, do not turn away.”

As the verbal sparring continues, the division and the fandom wait with bated breath. The stakes are monumental. So, who takes the next step? Will Merab Dvalishvili finally step up to Umar Nurmagomedov’s challenge, or will he lean on the familiarity of Petr Yan for his first title defense? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!