Merab Dvalishvili has stated openly that he is not interested in moving up to the featherweight division to pursue a second championship title.
The current Bantamweight champion, Dvalishvili, boasts an impressive 12-fight winning streak and is set to defend his title in a rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 this Saturday night. He frequently comments that the process of cutting weight is more challenging than the actual fight, often battling through various injuries before competing.
When a champion achieves the level of dominance Dvalishvili has shown, the desire to move up a weight class and challenge for another title often arises. However, Dvalishvili acknowledges that the idea of facing the acclaimed Alexander Volkanovski for featherweight gold is a challenge he is not ready to take on.
Merab Dvalishvili Expresses Hesitation About Fighting Alexander Volkanovski
With his second bantamweight title defense against Sean O’Malley just days away, Merab Dvalishvili is considered a significant favorite for a comfortable victory. He controlled their initial encounter convincingly, despite objections from the former champion, and is expected to repeat that performance this time.
During a recent appearance on Fox Sports in Australia, the champion was interviewed by fellow titleholder Alexander Volkanovski. Dvalishvili told the Australian fighter, “I’ve mentioned a few times that I don’t want to fight you because you are significantly stronger than me.”
He elaborated on his position: “I prefer not to take such a big risk; I’m comfortable where I am. Even though managing this weight is difficult, I’d rather push myself to make this weight and feel good here. I’m content, I don’t want to [fight Volkanovski]. Afterwards, we can calmly cook and wish each other the best.”
Volkanovski reportedly laughed at Dvalishvili’s seemingly lighthearted comment, responding, “I appreciate that; the respect is mutual. You’re a legend, I look forward to seeing you, and best of luck this weekend.”
Alexander Volkanovski`s Next Title Defense Might Be An Unpopular Choice
Alexander Volkanovski’s situation in the featherweight division is currently uncertain following his demanding victory in the UFC 314 main event against Diego Lopes. It appears he is heading towards a title defense against Yair Rodriguez, an opponent he already decisively defeated via knockout in 2023.
Volkanovski seems interested in a fight against the undefeated Movsar Evloev, but the UFC will likely require Evloev to secure one more win to earn a guaranteed title shot. Speaking with Fox Sports, Volkanovski explained the situation: “It was fairly clear that Movsar wasn’t going to be next.”
Volkanovski continued: “I initially thought it would be him since he’s undefeated. I believe they have matched him up already. You might have seen him tweet something about that, so he has publicly stated that he unfortunately cannot fight for the title yet.
“Yair’s name has come up, but no dates are finalized at this moment. I think there are many variables across all divisions currently. A lot is happening right now, and we will see what develops. The rumors you’ve likely heard are generally accurate, but nothing has been officially confirmed.”
Gareth Pendleton