TLDR
- Merab Dvalishvili says he wasn’t happy seeing rival Umar Nurmagomedov knocked out by Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai in August
- Nurmagomedov suffered his first career stoppage loss when Song landed a perfectly timed uppercut
- Dvalishvili lost his bantamweight title to Petr Yan in December after three successful defenses
- The former champion faces Yan in a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi
- If Dvalishvili reclaims the belt, he wants Song Yadong as his next challenger
Sources: yardbarker.com | youtube.com
Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili says he took no pleasure in watching his rival Umar Nurmagomedov get knocked out at UFC Shanghai in August. The Georgian fighter addressed the stunning defeat in a recent interview despite their well-known rivalry.
Umar Nurmagomedov suffered the first stoppage loss of his career when Song Yadong landed a perfectly timed uppercut at the Shanghai event. The knockout shocked the bantamweight division and marked only the second career loss for the Dagestani fighter.
Dvalishvili’s Unexpected Response
“When I see Umar lose that way, I was not happy because I never wish somebody to lose or get KO’d like this,” Dvalishvili said in the interview. “I was not happy, but I was excited for Song Yadong because he is the new contender now.”
🇬🇪 Merab Dvalishvili plans to be the one chasing Petr Yan in their fight, rather than fighting off the back foot.
"In the last fight, I was trying to be different than I was; I was chasing his head too much… Now I'm gonna chase his body, then mix it up.
He was the No. 1; now… pic.twitter.com/uImmWZsYqL
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) September 14, 2026
The statement comes despite months of bad blood between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov. Dvalishvili had previously claimed that Nurmagomedov received preferential treatment because of his family connection to former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili praised Song’s performance at UFC Shanghai and called the Chinese striker dangerous. He said a potential matchup between them excites him because of Song’s knockout power.
The former champion defeated Nurmagomedov in his first title defense last year. He initially resisted taking that fight due to his concerns about Nurmagomedov being fast-tracked in the division.
Title Plans and Trilogy Fight
Dvalishvili lost his bantamweight title to Petr Yan this past December after three successful defenses. The two fighters will complete their trilogy at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi.
If Dvalishvili reclaims the belt from Yan, he told reporters he wants Song Yadong as his next opponent. He described Song as “new blood” in the division and pointed out they have never fought before.
Song now sits as the top contender in the 135-pound division after his knockout victory over Nurmagomedov. The win elevated Song’s status and created new title paths in the bantamweight rankings.
Dvalishvili said the potential clash with Song represents fresh territory at bantamweight. The matchup would feature two fighters who have never faced each other inside the octagon.
The former champion’s comments show a shift in tone from his previous attacks on Nurmagomedov. Despite their bitter history, Dvalishvili made clear he doesn’t wish serious harm on any fighter.
Dvalishvili must first get past Yan at UFC 333 before any fight with Song can materialize. The trilogy bout will determine if he can reclaim the title he lost four months ago.
