Almost engaging in a physical altercation backstage tonight, Merab Dvalisvili claimed incoming UFC 311 opponent, Umar Nurmagomedov was “gifted” a title fight against him on January 18. — before labelling him a “piece of sh*t” and questioned him as a man.
Dvalishvili, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, was booked to make his return to the Octagon earlier this weekend, with the promotion confirming the Georgian would make the first attempted defense of the crown in a grudge match with the unbeaten 18-0 challenger, Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in the new year.
And ahead of tonight’s UFC 311 pre-fight press conference ahead of the pairing in Los Angeles, engaged in a backstage verbal skirmish with Nurmagomedov — with the two corralled by security officials, as the champion offered to settle their differences there and then.