Since Merab Dvalishvili became the bantamweight champion after dethroning Sean O’Malley at the one-and-done UFC 306, his doubters have been pressuring him to face Dagestani sensation Umar Nurmagomedov, who recently made a significant jump in the rankings. Along with his critics, calls for Dvalishvili to put his title on the line against ‘Young Eagle’ have intensified. According to rumors from Red Corner MMA, Nurmagomedov is all set to face Song Yadong at a yet-to-be-announced UFC event in Tampa Bay.

Amidst all the Nurmagomedov fight rumors, the ducking allegations seem to follow Dvalishvili, and he has not escaped scrutiny. Recently, a fan of Umar Nurmagomedov took a jab at Dvalishvili on X, posting a picture of Jon Jones with the caption, “Smile if you ducked the #1 contender in your division,” while also calling out the heavyweight king, who has faced criticism for seemingly evading a fight with interim title holder Tom Aspinall.

Dvalishvili’s teammate and friend, Aljamain Sterling, addressed that fan and slammed the critics, writing on the same thread, “You guys are exhausting; constantly repeating the same stuff makes no sense.” This caught the attention of Nurmagomedov, who replied to Sterling in the same thread, claiming, “He’s ready to fight with you in November, but not with me, that’s why, Aljamain.”

This points to Merab Dvalishvili’s challenge to Sean O’Malley, who has been accusing the judges and ‘The Machine’ of cheating since his loss, claiming he won the first, third, and fifth rounds. Irritated by O’Malley’s accusations, Dvalishvili offered him a rematch at the upcoming UFC 309 event at Madison Square Garden.

However, O’Malley turned down the fight, as he suffered a torn left labrum in his hip, which will keep him away from the octagon for some time due to surgery. But this does not take away Sean O’Malley’s ability to critique Dvalishvili again.

Is Umar Nurmagomedov “terrified” of Merab Dvalishvili?

Since his debut in the promotion, Dagestani sensation Umar Nurmagomedov, just like his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, has lived up to his Dagestani heritage by derailing everyone who has come his way in his MMA journey. This is why Nurmagomedov boasts an unblemished record, just like his cousins and brother, Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov.

Currently standing at 18-0-0, ‘Young Eagle’ showcased his skills in his last outing at UFC Abu Dhabi in early August, where he slayed a tenacious Cory Sandhagen. Nurmagomedov, who was previously ranked #10 in the bantamweight division, emerged victorious after a grueling five-round battle, allowing him to jump to #8 and ultimately to #2 in the latest rankings.

This consistent performance poses a significant threat to the new division king. This has led to the perception among many, including Sean O’Malley, that Merab Dvalishvili is apprehensive about facing Nurmagomedov. ‘Suga’ recently shared his thoughts while speaking on Ariel Helwani’s show. When the host asked him why the champion and ranked #2 contender had not been booked yet, O’Malley replied, “I’ll be ready. He would prefer me. I think he’s actually terrified of Umar if I’m being honest. Not trying to troll, not trying to be goofy; I think Merab’s scared of Umar and would rather fight me. He would probably see me as an easier fight. So yeah, I think he would pick that if he could.”

What’s your take on Umar Nurmagomedov’s claims? Do you think Merab Dvalishvili is intentionally avoiding Nurmagomedov, or should the champion be allowed to relish his title reign for a while, as Aljamain Sterling stated? Drop your opinion below.