Aljamain Sterling, the former UFC bantamweight champion, is all in on his training partner and friend Merab Dvalishvili as he prepares to defend his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on January 18. Sterling took to social media to hype up the upcoming fight, reminding fans that “January 18 is around the corner” and expressing his excitement for Dvalishvili’s title defense.
Sterling and Dvalishvili have been training together at the Serra-Longo Fight Team in New York, and their close friendship has been well-documented. Despite both being in the bantamweight title picture at the same time, they have refused to fight each other, which has drawn criticism from some fans and UFC officials.
Dvalishvili, known as “The Machine,” won the bantamweight title after defeating Sean O’Malley in September 2023. His first title defense against Nurmagomedov, who is unbeaten in his MMA career, is highly anticipated. Sterling has shown unwavering support for Dvalishvili, predicting a victory for his friend and indicating that he himself will not return to the bantamweight division.
Merab Dvalishvili Reveals Aljamain Sterling’s Reaction When He Learned About Merab’s Fight Against Umar Nurmagomedov
In an interview with ESPN MMA, Merab Dvalishvili shared that Sterling was initially shocked when he learned about the fight against Nurmagomedov, especially given the short notice. However, Dvalishvili made the decision independently, emphasizing that he and Sterling always support each other.
The UFC 311 event will also feature a main event between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, making it a stacked card with two title fights. As the fight approaches, tensions between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov have been rising, with Dvalishvili calling his opponent disrespectful.
With the support of his friend and training partner, Merab Dvalishvili is gearing up for a tough title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov. The MMA community is eagerly awaiting January 18 to see if “The Machine” can continue his winning streak and defend his title successfully.
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