Islam Makhachev Weighs in on Umar Nurmagomedov’s Future, Suggests Rematch with Merab Dvalishvili
Islam Makhachev, the current UFC Lightweight Champion, recently shared his thoughts on Umar Nurmagomedov’s future in the sport. Makhachev believes that Umar should consider a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili, citing his own experience with seeking rematches as a motivating factor. Umar Nurmagomedov last fought Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss. Despite a strong start, Umar was dominated in the later rounds, which he later attributed to a broken hand sustained during the fight.
Following his loss to Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov made a successful return to the Octagon at UFC 321, defeating Mario Bautista. He is now set to face Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324 in 2026, with his sights set on a title shot if he emerges victorious. Makhachev’s suggestion of a rematch with Dvalishvili comes as the latter is preparing for a potential trilogy fight with Petr Yan, who recently dethroned him at UFC 323.
Makhachev’s Comments on Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Merab Dvalishvili 2
In a recent interview, Makhachev expressed his interest in seeing a rematch between Umar Nurmagomedov and Merab Dvalishvili. He stated, “Honestly, I would be more interested in a fight against Merab because Umar lost his first fight; there were many reasons why. But what can we say about that now? I think Umar can do much better. I know he can outplay Merab. Umar is still young. He has time to get to the belt. But it would be good to close out the loss.” Makhachev’s comments highlight his confidence in Umar’s abilities and his desire to see him avenge his loss to Dvalishvili.
As reported by Red Corner MMA, Makhachev drew parallels between Umar’s situation and his own experience with seeking rematches. He noted, “I have one loss, and I’ve always had a chance in my head to close it out and get a rematch, and I know that’s no longer possible. But Umar has a good chance.” This sentiment reflects Makhachev’s understanding of the importance of rematch opportunities in the world of mixed martial arts.
Implications for Umar Nurmagomedov’s Future
If Umar Nurmagomedov secures a win against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324, he will likely be in line to face the winner of the potential Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3 bout. However, it remains to be seen whether Dvalishvili will be interested in a rematch with Umar, given his current focus on regaining the title. As the situation unfolds, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how Umar’s career progresses and whether he will ultimately get the opportunity to avenge his loss to Dvalishvili.
With his sights set on a title shot, Umar Nurmagomedov will need to continue performing at a high level and making a strong case for himself as a top contender. As Makhachev’s comments suggest, a rematch with Dvalishvili could be a crucial step in Umar’s journey towards becoming a champion. Only time will tell if this rematch will come to fruition and what the outcome will be.
