![Merab Dvalishvili (left) responds when asked about Umar Nurmagomedov (right) at Noche UFC 306 media day. [Images courtesy: @merab.dvalishvili, @umar_nurmagomedov on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/503b9-17261711040600-1920.jpg)
![Merab Dvalishvili (left) responds when asked about Umar Nurmagomedov (right) at Noche UFC 306 media day. [Images courtesy: @merab.dvalishvili, @umar_nurmagomedov on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Merab Dvalishvili has not yet won the UFC bantamweight title but is already being asked for his thoughts on the potential next challengers. Of them, Umar Nurmagomedov is at the top of the list after his impressive win over Cory Sandhagen.
With his focus on Sean O'Malley in the Noche UFC 306 main event, Dvalishvili gave a nonchalant response with his thoughts on a potential matchup against Nurmagomedov. 'The Machine' called the Dagestani an "easy fight," saying he would welcome that fight as a hypothetical first title defense should he become the next bantamweight champion on Sept. 14.
Dvalishvili said:
"Whoever the UFC wants me to fight, I will fight. I never choose my next opponent... If Umar [Nurmagomedov] is my next opponent, that's fine. Me and my team, we will work in training, no problem. That fight, I think it's easy. Easy fight for me. I will dominate him."
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After Nurmagomedov earned the respect of most fans following his win over Sandhagen, many were not infatuated with Dvalishvili's comments. One claimed that the 33-year-old looked "nervous" while speaking, commenting:
"He looks so nervous"
Other fans reacted with:
"Bro yapping too much these days"
"Everything Merab does, Umar does it better"
"Love Merab but Umar is no easy fight"
View more fan reactions to Merab Dvalishvili calling Umar Nurmagomedov "easy" below:
![Fans react to Merab Dvalishvili calling Umar Nurmagomedov an easy fight. [via @mmajunkie on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/ac3ae-17261723438269-1920.jpg)
Merab Dvalishvili says he prefers a matchup with Deiveson Figueiredo than Umar Nurmagomedov
After brushing aside Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili named the fighter who he would love to fight next: Deiveson Figueiredo.
Dvalishvili pointed out Figueiredo's track record as a former two-time flyweight champion who already has two top-10 wins at bantamweight. 'The Machine' claimed that he was unimpressed by Nurmagomedov's resume with just one win over a ranked contender.
Dvalishvili said:
"What excites me more [than Umar Nurmagomedov] is Deiveson Figueiredo. He's a former champion. I've already beaten three former champions and Sean O'Malley is the current champion, he would be my fourth champion. Figueiredo would be my fifth champion."
