Umar Nurmagomedov is one of the most classy fighters in the UFC. With a high-level grappling skillset, the Dagestani is surely a potential champion material. However, while he had already been challenged for the bantamweight title, Nurmagomedov suffered a bitter defeat. And that is, according to UFC commentator Joe Rogan, because of a ‘freak’. Well, it is none other than Merab Dvalishvili.
In a recent statement, Rogan was in awe of Dvalishvili’s skill set. He pointed out that his cardio and his pace were at the next level. And this is the only reason why even the greatest fighters are not standing a chance against ‘The Machine.’ Rogan further emphasized that Dvalishvili’s greatness could be assessed from the fact that he overwhelmed Nurmagomedov.
“That guy is insane. Everyone who’s been involved in the sport for as long as I have is blown away by it. The guy is a freak. When he gets in the ring, no one can match his cardio, no one can match his pace. He melts the greatest of the greats,” said Rogan.
🇬🇪🔥Joe Rogan praises Merab Dvalishvili's insane cardio and relentless pace — "He melts the greatest of the greats"
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 17, 2025
"That guy is insane. Everyone who's been involved in the sport for as long as I have is blown away by it. The guy is a freak. When he gets in the ring, no one can… pic.twitter.com/tZnENFR02J
Surely, Dvalishvili did put on a show. After being dominated by Nurmagomedov in the initial couple of rounds, the champion came back strongly. Dvalishvili won the next three rounds to defend his title successfully. Meanwhile, having lost the match, Umar Nurmagomedov did not want to give any excuse.
Umar Nurmagomedov Accepts Defeat Without Excuse
The Dagestani initially felt that he should have won the bout. However, months later, Umar revisited the situation and came up with a fresh take. In an interaction with Adam Zubayrev, Nurmagomedov stated that he lost the bout. And he did not want to make any excuses for the same.
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“I went into my last fight with an injured hand. This is not an excuse — I lost, and that’s that. It was Allah’s will for me, and I accept it. I rewatched the fight — the third and fourth rounds, I gave those up. I lost them, it’s clear,” said Nurmagomedov.
Umar Nurmagomedov rewatched the Merab fight and takes full accountability for the loss 🥋💯
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) June 15, 2025
"I went into my last fight with an injured hand. This is not an excuse — I lost, and that’s that. It was Allah’s will for me, and I accept it. I rewatched the fight — the third and fourth… pic.twitter.com/PvHRFLRoKu
Thus, with things looking a tad bit complicated, it remains to be seen how things pan out for Umar Nurmagomedov in the future.
Also Read: Umar Nurmagomedov Drops Shocking Update About Islam Makhachev’s Aim To Be A Double Champion
