It’s barely been a week since Merab Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title with an impressive win over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, and “The Machine” is already thinking of his next fight.
Dvalishvili traveled to Australia to enjoy UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia and shared his thoughts on the Umar win, his friend and countryman Ilia Topuria, and who he’ll fight next.
“I think my thoughts and UFC’s plans are the same,” he told Southern Cross Combat. “I want one of the rematches, either Sean O’Malley or Petr Yan. And I think UFC wants the same. My next fight should be April or June and I’m ready. Whatever the UFC wants. I’m waiting for contract and I’m ready to show people good fight again and do what I love to do.”
As for Umar Nurmagomedov?
“He make lots of excuses after,” Dvalishvili said. “That’s easy way. I think he should just be humble and blame himself and learn from his mistakes and get better. That’s a respectful recommendation from me. But he knows himself and his things, he can do what he wants.”
Then there’s fellow Georgian Ilia Topuria, who is rumored to be fighting Alexander Volkanovski in April — but also rumored to be moving up to lightweight.
“Ilia is my good friend and I have so much respect for him,” Merab said. “He says he wants to go up and I respect and support his decision. Now it’s up to UFC, they either give him Islam — I think they should give Islam — but if not Islam, then Oliveira or Dustin Poirier. Ilia wants to fight champions or superfights, that’s up to him. I will just support him, wherever he goes, whatever he does, he’s such a great guy and a great champion.”
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
