Fans have long associated the name ‘Nurmagomedov’ with dominance inside the cage. But Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, couldn’t extend that undefeated legacy. Umar suffered his first career loss against Merab Dvalishvili in a high-stakes bantamweight title fight. Now, months later, the ‘Young Eagle’ has accepted the setback — owning the loss and acknowledging where he fell short.
Umar had prepared for the biggest fight of his career alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov. He was fully ready to deliver a statement performance, but Merab Dvalishvili had the upper hand and secured a decision victory. During the bout, the Dagestani fighter suffered a serious hand injury, breaking his wrist mid-fight. Initially, Umar felt he had done enough to win and believed he was robbed on the judges’ scorecards.
However, in a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, the former bantamweight title contender reflected on the loss and admitted: “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.”
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
In the meantime, fans have watched the Dagestani fighter remain sidelined from the bantamweight division due to injuries. However, he’s recently shared multiple training videos, signaling his return. A new fight announcement could be on the way soon.
Merab Dvalishvili Backed By Former Champs To Make History And Outshine UFC’s Biggest Names
Dvalishvili’s dominant run in the bantamweight division, most recently with a win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, has sparked serious GOAT conversations among fans and fighters alike. Backed by two former champions, Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, ‘The Machine’ is now being touted as someone who could surpass UFC legends like Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev. Speaking on the Pound4Pound podcast, the two former champs said:
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“Jones hasn’t gone through everybody in the heavyweight division, Islam hasn’t gone through everybody in the lightweight division, but Merab is about to go through everybody in the division and there’s no denying it. If Merab beats Cory Sandhagen, he not only deserves pound-for-pound No. 1 but also the Fighter of the Year 2025.”
Currently sitting at No. 2 on the UFC’s pound-for-pound list, Merab Dvalishvili’s upcoming clash with Cory Sandhagen could be the defining moment of his career. A victory would not only strengthen his case for Fighter of the Year but also push him closer to GOAT status.
Also Read: UFC Heavyweight Details Reason Why Sean O’Malley Failed Twice Against Merab Dvalishvili
