‘I feel like I’m Conor McGregor’ – UFC champion compares himself to Jon Jones and Mike Tyson ahead of UFC 311
Merab Dvalishvili has said he feels like Conor McGregor in his new life as a world champion. Dvalishvili also compared the backlash he has received since becoming a UFC champion to what Jon Jones and Mike Tyson once got. Dvalishvili says he gets hate just like Jon Jones and Mike TysonGetty The 33-year-old was crowned the UFC bantamweight champion after dominating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September. Dvalishvili lost his first two fights in Dana White’s promotion, but embarked on a 10-fight winning streak to earn his first shot at UFC gold. ‘The Machine’ is now viewed as one of the deadliest bantamweights in the world, having averaged over six takedowns per fight in his UFC career. However, Dvalishvili faces a similar opponent in Russia’s undefeated Umar Nurmagmomedov for his fist title defence at UFC 311. It is the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 on January 19 as Islam Makhachev makes it two title fights on the night with his main event bout against Arman Tsarukyan. “It’s been good,” Dvalishvili told ESPN MMA about his life since becoming a world champion. “But since I became champion I’ve gained a lot of drama too. Lots of talking, maybe because everyone wanted to see me fight Umar. “The last couple of fights I’ve gotten a lot of attention, people recognise me but give hate on Instagram and on social media which is very hard for me. “So that was extra pressure but it’s all good, now I’m good and focused on the fight [with Nurmagomedov].” Dvalishvili was at the centre of several altercations with UFC fans in 2024. Dvalishvili takes on Nurmagomedov at UFC 311Getty Who is trained by the iconic Khabib Nurmagomedov [left centre] At UFC 310 in December, he cornered long-term friend Aljamain Sterling for his defeat to Russia’s Movsar Evloev on the preliminary card. The defeat led to the crowd hurling abuse at Sterling’s coaching staff, which prompted one member of the team to punch a fan who was in attendance. Dvalishvili was subsequently escorted out of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas by security, alongside the other members of the team, following the incident. The altercation led to UFC President Dana White warning Dvalishvili that it will ‘cost you a lot’ if he keeps fighting with fans. “The best way now is I should stay busy and take fights,” Dvalishvili added, when asked about how he navigates the hate he receives. “That’s it because I was gonna enjoy some time but now I feel like I’m Conor McGregor, a lot of drama comes. Jones was banned for using PEDs during his days at light heavyweight “Even Jon Jones and Mike Tyson used to get a lot of drama before, and I’m like: ‘Where is this coming from?’, the same guy doing the same things, but it’s all good.” McGregor is one of the most controversial fighters in UFC history, due to his outspoken nature and unique personality. Things got even worse for the Irishman too after he was found liable for sexual assault in a High Court civil case brought by Nikita Hand in November. Jones has also been on the receiving end of relentless hate during his career as one of MMA’s biggest stars. He has previously tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs, and the banned anabolic steroid, Turinabol, which helps muscles grow and become stronger. At the beginning of 2024, Dvalishvili was involved in another altercation when he jumped into the stands to confront a heckler during a different UFC event. Dvalishvili revealed that the fan was taunting him with references to O’Malley, who he was victorious over at UFC 306. “He’s my mini Strickland without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili’s behaviour. “What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. I mean, I don’t know. You can’t keep fighting with f***ing fans. “It’s gonna cost you a lot. You can do it. It’s gonna cost you a lot of money, right? “Listen, man, I say it all the time. We’re in the f***ing fight business. This happens. We gotta deal with it.”
Merab Dvalishvili has said he feels like Conor McGregor in his new life as a world champion.
Dvalishvili also compared the backlash he has received since becoming a UFC champion to what Jon Jones and Mike Tyson once got.
The 33-year-old was crowned the UFC bantamweight champion after dominating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September.
Dvalishvili lost his first two fights in Dana White’s promotion, but embarked on a 10-fight winning streak to earn his first shot at UFC gold.
‘The Machine’ is now viewed as one of the deadliest bantamweights in the world, having averaged over six takedowns per fight in his UFC career.
However, Dvalishvili faces a similar opponent in Russia’s undefeated Umar Nurmagmomedov for his fist title defence at UFC 311.
It is the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2025 on January 19 as Islam Makhachev makes it two title fights on the night with his main event bout against Arman Tsarukyan.
“It’s been good,” Dvalishvili told ESPN MMA about his life since becoming a world champion.
“But since I became champion I’ve gained a lot of drama too. Lots of talking, maybe because everyone wanted to see me fight Umar.
“The last couple of fights I’ve gotten a lot of attention, people recognise me but give hate on Instagram and on social media which is very hard for me.
“So that was extra pressure but it’s all good, now I’m good and focused on the fight [with Nurmagomedov].”
Dvalishvili was at the centre of several altercations with UFC fans in 2024.
At UFC 310 in December, he cornered long-term friend Aljamain Sterling for his defeat to Russia’s Movsar Evloev on the preliminary card.
The defeat led to the crowd hurling abuse at Sterling’s coaching staff, which prompted one member of the team to punch a fan who was in attendance.
Dvalishvili was subsequently escorted out of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas by security, alongside the other members of the team, following the incident.
The altercation led to UFC President Dana White warning Dvalishvili that it will ‘cost you a lot’ if he keeps fighting with fans.
“The best way now is I should stay busy and take fights,” Dvalishvili added, when asked about how he navigates the hate he receives.
“That’s it because I was gonna enjoy some time but now I feel like I’m Conor McGregor, a lot of drama comes.
“Even Jon Jones and Mike Tyson used to get a lot of drama before, and I’m like: ‘Where is this coming from?’, the same guy doing the same things, but it’s all good.”
McGregor is one of the most controversial fighters in UFC history, due to his outspoken nature and unique personality.
Things got even worse for the Irishman too after he was found liable for sexual assault in a High Court civil case brought by Nikita Hand in November.
Jones has also been on the receiving end of relentless hate during his career as one of MMA’s biggest stars.
He has previously tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs, and the banned anabolic steroid, Turinabol, which helps muscles grow and become stronger.
At the beginning of 2024, Dvalishvili was involved in another altercation when he jumped into the stands to confront a heckler during a different UFC event.
Dvalishvili revealed that the fan was taunting him with references to O’Malley, who he was victorious over at UFC 306.
“He’s my mini Strickland without the mouth,” White said of Dvalishvili’s behaviour.
“What do you do? Let him buy the pay-per-view, I guess. I mean, I don’t know. You can’t keep fighting with f***ing fans.
“It’s gonna cost you a lot. You can do it. It’s gonna cost you a lot of money, right?
“Listen, man, I say it all the time. We’re in the f***ing fight business. This happens. We gotta deal with it.”
