Ex-UFC champion issues honest prediction for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov title clash: "He manages to tire people"

Addressing the Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov showdown, a former UFC champion has put forth a prediction and provided the reasoning behind the same. The veteran MMA fighter suggested that Dvalishvili is likely to retain his title by handing Nurmagomedov his first defeat.

Reigning UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili is on an incredible 11-fight win streak and is counted among the very best fighters in the UFC today. Nevertheless, the Georgian-American has been deemed an underdog by certain sections of the MMA community against the unbeaten Nurmagomedov. The Russian has long been touted as a future UFC champion and potential MMA great.

Presently, Merab Dvalishvili is booked to defend his bantamweight belt in a highly-anticipated grudge match against Nurmagomedov, which will co-headline UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025. The event will be headlined by Nurmagomedov's training partner, reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who's scheduled to defend his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo was asked about the Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov matchup. 'Deus Da Guerra' indicated 'The Machine's' confusing fighting style could help him defeat Nurmagomedov.

However, the Brazilian combatant implied that 'Young Eagle' is capable of submitting foes from the bottom position, which is something Merab Dvalishvili ought to be cautious about. Giving his prediction for the UFC 311 co-headliner, Figueiredo stated:

"I tend more for Merab. The reason why I do this is his striking is not refined, but he manages to tire people and confuse people, so he can get them down. On the other hand, Umar is a guy that knows how to submit from the bottom. So there is that risk for Merab. But after five rounds, I see Merab's hand being raised."

Watch Deiveson Figueiredo's prediction about Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov below (11:32):

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Ex-UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo on potential fight against Merab Dvalishvili

Former UFC flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo amassed a three-fight win streak after his bantamweight divisional debut and appeared en route to a bantamweight title shot.

Nevertheless, the streak ended in the Brazilian's most recent fight, as he suffered a unanimous decision defeat against ex-UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC Macau in November 2024.

Prior to that, Figueiredo had been called out by UFC bantamweight kingpin Merab Dvalishvili, who'd often seemed to suggest that the Brazilian was more deserving of a bantamweight title shot than Umar Nurmagomedov was. Regardless, the UFC booked Dvalishvili against Nurmagomedov for UFC 311. Meanwhile, Yan has expressed interest in a potential rematch against Sean O'Malley in 2025.

During the aforementioned interview, Figueiredo asserted that he could defeat current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja -- whom he beat via unanimous decision in 2019 -- if the UFC offers him that opportunity.

'Deus Da Guerra' reaffirmed that he's mainly focused on the bantamweight belt and feels he could bag a matchup against Dvalishvili by winning his next fight:

"Yeah. I think that Merab really wants to fight me. He knows that I'm the biggest name for my history in the flyweight division. I think he wants that challenge. And I think that if I win my next fight, I'm right there at the doorstep. I'm sure he's gonna want to fight me." [11:05-minute mark of the interview]