UFC president Dana White can’t wrap his head across the bond between Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. White insulted Dvalishvili for placing Sterling’s world title ambitions forward of his personal within the aftermath of UFC 292.
Sterling’s reign as bantamweight champion interfered with Dvalishvili’s title pursuit because the shut buddies had been unwilling to struggle one another. In an ideal world, Sterling would have vacated the title and moved as much as featherweight after defeating Sean O’Malley. However “Suga’s” thrilling second-round knockout threw a wrench in these plans. Each Sterling and Dvalishvili desire a crack on the new champ however are prepared to concede precedence for the opposite.
“I hate it,” White mentioned throughout Tuesday’s “Contender Collection” post-fight press convention. “Why did you even get into this sport if that is your mentality in the best way that you simply suppose? ‘I do not even need the title, I do not need the championship. We’re buddies, we’re this, we’re that.’
“There are plenty of good individuals on this enterprise. A number of good individuals. This isn’t about friendship. It is about discovering out who one of the best on this planet is. And when you do not wish to discover out who one of the best on this planet is this isn’t the place for you. You have to be someplace else. There are many locations to struggle the place they do not give a shit what you do. Does not work right here.”
Dvalishvil was outraged with the referee stoppage at UFC 292 regardless of a common consensus that Sterling misplaced pretty. Dvalishvili lately mentioned that he’s prepared to remain sidelined whereas Sterling avenges his loss to O’Malley.
“After Aljamain Sterling, I’m the No. 1 contender. Everyone knows that,” Dvalishvili beforehand advised MMA Junkie. “I’ve a nine-fight successful streak and I beat two former champions, again to again. I fought everyone who they put in entrance of me… I feel the correct means is that Aljo comes again, beat O’Malley, will get his belt again, and I feel after that he could go up a weight class.
“If he vacates the belt and takes a trip or one thing, I’ll struggle for the belt with whoever might be subsequent. Now, I do not wish to rush. I simply don’t desire any silly struggle, you already know, as a result of the struggle does not make sense. I do not wish to struggle any person that has a loss. What does this struggle get me?”
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Dvalishvili has not fought since March however sees no cause to take one other struggle till O’Malley vs. Sterling 2 concludes.
“I wish to struggle the highest guys. I do not wish to take a look at, I am examined already. I proved it. My final opponents I dominated…” Dvalishvili mentioned. “I am the subsequent man after Aljo. So a great way can be to provide Aljo a rematch and after that, I am simply going to attend for my title struggle, and we’ll determine it out after. However I am simply going to struggle for the title subsequent – even when I’ve to attend a yr or extra.”
Sterling mentioned prematurely of UFC 292 that there was a “99%” probability it might be his final bantamweight struggle particularly if he defeated O’Malley. Getting knocked out at 135 kilos has Sterling reconsidering if he’d really thrive up a weight class. Sterling had a record-setting run as bantamweight champ and desires the subsequent title shot, however he will not inconvenience his buddy for lengthy.
“I feel there’s just one identify that involves thoughts, and that is Aljamain Sterling within the rematch,” Sterling mentioned on his “Weekly Scraps” podcast. “All jokes apart, I feel if I do not get the fast rematch — if they had been to supply me that fast rematch for December, I am simply going to must respectfully decline; but when they had been to do it early subsequent yr like January or February, I’d settle for it in a heartbeat.
“But when I am not going to get the rematch, the subsequent man in line must be Merab Dvalishvili. Needs to be. No. 1 contender. I do not suppose another matchup makes extra sense than him.”