Dvalishvili: O'Malley 'deserves' title shot more than Nurmagomedov

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili said Friday that he believes former champ Sean O'Malley should receive the next crack at the belt over Umar Nurmagomedov.

"Umar don't deserve to fight me," Dvalishvili said at a fan Q-and-A event ahead of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. "Sean O'Malley deserves to fight me, and I'm gonna rematch him. He deserves it. Umar has to prove, and I will fight him."

Dvalishvili topped O'Malley in a lopsided unanimous decision victory to capture the 135-pound title at UFC 306 in September. Both have angled for an immediate rematch, with O'Malley saying he thought he should've gotten the judges' decision despite Dvalishvili outstriking him and scoring six takedowns.

Ahead of that fight, it was widely assumed the winner would face Nurmagomedov, who beat Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August to become the No. 2-ranked contender. Nurmagomedov has since accused Dvalishvili of ducking him.

But Dvalishvili said Nurmagomedov - who's rumored to be in talks for a bout with Song Yadong in early 2025 - is the one who's avoiding the matchup.

"I'm not scared of no one, only God," Dvalishvili said. "Where is this guy? He's taking a fight. He's scared. He's fighting somebody else. Where is he? Where is he? Tell me. ... He wants to get knocked down from somebody, and then he's gonna make excuses."

However, Dvalishvili added that he'll let the UFC decide his next opponent and is prepared to accept any scenario.

"I don't make decision," Dvalishvili said. "I never make decision. If Dana White tells me I have to fight Umar, I'm fighting Umar."

Nurmagomedov responded to Dvalishvili on X later Friday: