MMA Fighting - Merab Dvalishvili On UFC 298 Fight With Henry Cejudo, Title Shot, Sean O’Malley Comments

Episode Date: February 12, 2024

Merab Dvalishvili competes at UFC 298 with a potential title shot on the line when he faces former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in a marquee fight on the main card. Just days away from the fight, Dvalishvili sits down with MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to discuss the fight and Cejudo’s claims that he’s either going to earn another shot at gold with a win or likely retire with a loss. Dvalishvili also addresses his disappointment to get passed over for a title shot of his own so Sean O’Malley could attempt to avenge a past loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera. Speaking of O’Malley, Dvalishvili also takes aim at the reigning 135-pound champion for his claims that Cejudo is only fighting at UFC 298 because he needs the money. Finally, Dvalishvili discusses Aljamain Sterling moving up to featherweight and who he believes is actually the best bantamweight in the world right now. All this and more in a special interview with Dvalishvili ahead of his return at UFC 298. Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit darktrace.com forward slash defenders for more information. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Number one contender in the Bantamway Division. He has taken on Henry Sehuda at UFC 298, and I will now and forever refer to him as Professor Machine. He is the great Marab de Wailashvili. Marab, how are you? Very good.

Thank you for promo. I appreciate it. Great. So Marab, lots of talk with you about, but I got to start with Professor Machine. What a great video. I was cracking up. Where did the inspiration for that come from?

Man, like, you know, all the things going on, everybody calling rematch. Like, one was enough, like, when Omali called number six, Chita Weera. And, like, it was hard for me to just take another challenge again. Like, Henry said, who do I prove? I don't have to prove again. But, and then now if Chitovera wins, that he wants Rewatchel. much again. This is bullshit, you know? And that's why I did all this, all this, all this, like, teaching and, like, professor thing in my social media. And then when Henry Sehudo, screw up my last name, I have to teach him

to how to spell my name. And things like that, you know, I like to allow positivity. It's hard for me to disrespect somebody and especially like a tough fighters like Henry Sevudo and I just I just try to make fun and just laugh and joke and put positive there yeah yeah Henry struggles with last names he does he struggled I did he did a broadcast with Eagle FC and he was struggling with Narmaga Medov too so he's not

I'm not sure he may call himself to judo he may struggle with his own last name I'm not sure Yeah, I don't know I should I should because Yeah he does He's not true to be Mexican I don't know what's wrong What's wrong with this guy

You know he's like I love Mexico And I will give more respect Henne Sehuto he will be more proud of being Mexican You know I don't know what's wrong with him But But as a fighter he's a great fighter And he's a great athlete and he's a good family guy, so I still have a big respect for him.

So it's it. Yeah. So before we get to Henry Suhudo, Marab, you know, we talked after your last win, and again, you know, I'm not going to rehash everything we said, but, you know, we all kind of agree that, you know, it should have been you or Aljo getting the next shot, and then, of course, Cheeto gets the shot, and then you end up getting to Henry Suhudo. Now, you're on this long win streak.

You've taken on every contender they've thrown at you. You've never backed down from a challenge. You never back down from a fight. But do you allow yourself like two minutes to get upset or anger or pissed off or whatever? Like when they announced Cheeto and O'Malley, are you just like, are you kidding me? Or do you just move on right away? Yeah, I was upset, you know. It was hard for me because when I was fighting Josie Aldo, I knew that I was number one

in the fight if Josialdo beats me that he was supposed to fight for the title because he was coming from three weeks. he'd be Chito Vera and he'd be two other contenders. And so after that, you know, I understand my final champion and, you know, nobody opened me fight to him. You know, I don't want to fight to him, but at the same time nobody opened me, fight to, you know, that's okay. I was fine. I was waiting, you know.

I know Aljo was going up and everything was fine. but after I beat Peter Young, and, you know, I approve again, and nobody, I mean, after I, I deserve title of shot, you know. But in the end of the year, the O'Malley call number six guy, and it was hard, you know. And but so now, you know, like, it's, I guess they're looking for numbers. It's something, I guess, maybe it's more favor much for O'Malley.

this fight, I guess, I'm guessing that's what happening. But I move on, you know, I'm a fighter, and I'm who I am to complain about. You know, I always been fighting whoever was part of me, and that's what I'm going to do now. But after this, that's it, you know, the title fight is next. I'm not going to look at any other bullshit fights, you know. I'm going to just, I'm going to take whatever is mine, you know. I'm gonna, I deserve, if I beat Henryson, I would be number one contender for a title

and I'm not fight any other bullshit fight. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I mean, listen, I don't care what they say. Before the fight, after the fight, you got to be Hinder Suhudo. You are the number one contender. There can be no other direction. I don't know how in the world they could try to deny you. And I appreciate guys like Corey Sanhagan want a title shot.

Everyone wants a title shot, and of course, you know, I get it. That's the sport. But I think everyone understands if you be Henderson Hutto, You got it's like we're doing Bilal Muhammad at Welthewitt like right like what do we do it like he's earned the title shot I agree exactly yeah yeah Corey Sagan is good fighter but he got his chance you know he fight Peter Ian for the title and he lost now I never fight for the title and I beat Peterian very dominate so I mean and then like you know and like I don't know like I am nine fight this trick and so yeah I'm the guy yeah now I know I'm the guy yeah now I know you said in

your breakdown I know you have plans of calling out Frankie signs which was hilarious by the way but you said your breakdown that Cheeto Vera you see you know beating Sean he's going to call San Higgins so on and so on but in reality who do you actually think wins that but I know it doesn't matter to you you'll fight Cheeto or you'll fight O'Malley but who do you actually think wins that one I wish O'Malley wins this fight, you know, because I've been calling him out since 2018, since I win my first fight in UFC, and I've been chasing him, and not because of, I think, it's easy, or I will beat him easy. You know, he's a good fight, a good, good, good challenge for me, and I want to fight him,

you know, and hopefully Omali, because, you know, but Chito, of course, he has a chance, like, You know, he already beat Omali before. So, you know, he's, I mean, it's a fight. Everything is possible. And, you know, Chito has chance. I'm not sure, but I'm rooting for Omali, you know. It might be the only time in your life you'll ever root for Sean O'Malley. Yeah.

Yeah, like sometimes, you know, he's this. Yeah, I don't like this guy. I don't hate nobody, you know, but. not only time you know I don't know like yeah I don't know we'll see you'll see

yeah but I'm not gonna root when he's gonna fight me I'm not gonna rooting to him but otherwise maybe other time so now you you know you got this fight with Henry and of course the timing

you know you were obviously helping you were obviously helping Aljo get ready for Henry last year so I assume you're almost going to like a second training camp in a way getting ready for Henry Suhudo because I imagine you knew him pretty well helping Aljo so can I imagine like at this point you got to feel like you know Henry Zudo pretty well yes and no because yeah we was training for Henley-Sherrudo but but you know like

when I was fine with Aljo I was doing I was mimicated a little bit Henry but it's you know I still have in my own style and I was just doing pressure and everything And, yeah, I studied before Henry Sehudo, but it's very hard. You know, he hits hard, like his right hand. He kicks hard. He shoots single leg, you know. He's a Olympic wrestler champion. So, yeah, even I know him, it's still hard style and hard much up for me

because it's going to be hard to take him down. It's going to be hard to knock him out or do something crazy. So hopefully we will have a great fight. Hopefully everybody will enjoy this fight, but I'm sure because it's going to be a good fight. You know, it's only three rounds. And I'm sure Henry will push his gas tanks. And that's what I'm always doing.

And I'm sure it's going to be a good fight. And we will see number one, in the fights. Yeah. What did you think of Henry's performance against Aljo? I mean, I thought Aljo won four rounds to one, and I've told Aljo that. I didn't think it was a split decision by any stretch of the imagination. I thought it was four rounds to one.

But, you know, for being off for a couple of years and coming back in there against the champion, you know, I thought Henry had some moments. But I thought Aljo won pretty clearly. But what did you think of Henry's performance that night? Because it was his first fight back in a couple of years. I agree. I think Henry did very good. Aljo did win, this fight.

It wasn't split decision. But yeah, Henry, I was surprised how good Henry was looking. You know, he was doing. He fought five-round, very competitive match against Aljo. And I know how strong Al-Jo is. And I give respect for Henry, Sanudo, how good he did. And so I'm just respecting him. Henry Sehudo and I am only accepting he's he's gonna be strong, he's gonna be hungry and

you know like think about this you know he it's not see if I beat Henry Sehudo you know he's not gonna go back and keep fighting down to the ladder and he's not gonna he he if he he lost now he needs like three more wins to to have a tighter conversation but if he beats me that he will fight tight It's a big moment for him. Of course, he will do everything to beat me. And of course, like, I just saw O'Bali tweet something or say something. Oh, Henry fighting for money.

This is bullshit because, you know, we are fighting for legacy. And Henry Seudo is fine. You know, he's a whole big champion. He's a division UFC champion. And he's doing all right. You know, I don't think he's fighting for money. You know, he's fighting for legacy. And he's a champion.

and he only loves gold, and that's what only he wants. And I'm accepting very strong Henry Serrudo, and I'm ready mentally, physically, and I'm going to show a world again, once again, you know? Absolutely, absolutely. Now, listen, Marab, I know this is an MMA fight. This is not a wrestling match. It is an MMA fight, but a big part of the fight with Aljo was,

how would Aljo deal with Henry's wrestling? Because he is a gold medalist in the Olympics. Well, Aljo ended up taking him down, what, six times during that fight? And I know Aljo kind of joked afterwards. He's like, I guess I'm a gold medalist now. Now, Marab, I know you were an incredible wrestler. You come from an incredible wrestling country in Georgia. Be honest with me.

You want to take Henry Suhudo down at least one time, right? Like, you got to take him down. Like, you got to... Yeah, of course. I... Of course, I want to take Henrikio down there. I would love to do this and I would try to turn and pretend. But like you said, it's not wrestling much.

And to me, I don't care. You know, I don't care. Of course, I would try taking down. But if I don't take him down, then I don't care. It's a fight, and I will fight for every position. It's the most important is punch your opponent. Don't get, don't get punch or don't get hit. So I'm just focused on the fight.

and they win, and that's what I'm going to do. And, yeah, so, yeah, Aljo did good because Aljo is good wrestler. Maybe he's not an Olympic champion, but he's been training. He's been drilling. And then he's like Aljo, he's like, you know, he's always doing wrestling training, always, he's always getting better. You know, and then it's also, same time, it's a fight. It's wrestling in the wrestling mats.

It's a definite rules. But here we have a cage. We have walls. And then it's so much different. And MMA wrestling is different and easy for me and easy for Aljo. So let me put you on the spot, Mrab. I'll ask you the question. Just being honest, are you the best wrestler in the Bantanweight Division, in your opinion?

After Aljo, yes. Oh, Aljo is a featherweight now. So Jayley's not even I've been awayed anymore. Hey, okay, let's put it in this way. I would say, Henry Sevedo is the best wrestler in our division. He's the Olympic champion. Come on.

I'm not. But he's the best wrestler. But I think I am using wrestling better than everyone in my division. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Is there any part of you that wishes this was five rounds, like, because you, you are built for five rounds. Like, it feels like people can't hang with you for five rounds.

Like, by the fourth round, you saw it, like, it felt like you kind of broke Peter Yon's will a little bit when you fought him. Like, he just had nothing left going into that fourth to fifth round. And it feels like you just kind of break the spirit of your opponents. Is there any party that kind of wishes this was five rounds? Exactly. I wish it's five rounds, but unfortunately not. It's only three-round.

Yeah, five-round fights. It's more favor for me. But, you know, like, I'm just a UFC fighter. I'm not making decisions here. I'm just, they just send me a contract. I signed the contract, and I'm just going to show up. I'm going to make weights, show up, and fight, you know. That's all I can control.

And that's what I'm going to propose on, you know. Like, yeah, I wish it's five-round. Yeah. Now, you mentioned it a minute ago, you know, Sean O'Malley saying that Henry's only doing this for money. He picked you to win. He said he's only doing this for money. But Henry did say something recently that I didn't call everybody's attention. He said that, you know, this is do or die for him. If he wins, he gets a title shot. If he loses, it's a good chance he goes back to retirement. Now, I'm not going to ask you to get into Henry Suhudo's head. But is it a good thing or a bad thing to have that kind of thought process going into. the fight. Like you can say yes. Like, it's good because it forces him to know how big this moment is. He has to get a win. But somewhere back in the back of his head, he's already thinking about retiring again. Like whether he's serious or not, I don't know. But somewhere in there he's thinking like, I could be retired again after one more fight. I don't know. Am I wrong and thinking like maybe that's just the wrong mindset to have? I don't know. No, no, he has a good

mindset. I'm not saying it's a bad mindset because imagine like he's going to put everything like you know, like I mentioned you know, like it's like Josialdo. When I beat Josialdo, he said, okay, I'm out of this. Like, you know, he's not going to

go back and keep cutting weight and win again. You know, he was coming from three, five each week and he wants to win another title. But when I beat him, that he lost the chance to title and then he don't want to do again like you know keep fighting all these contenders you know same thing with henry you know if

i beat him then i will fight title and then henry has to wait and if i become champion then henry has to keep fighting other guys and then you know he's not that means that he's not fighting for money he's fighting for legacy he wants only gold you know he's not but he can fight forever he's he's still god like we see you know he did very very good against aljo you know he did like it was like a split decision like but it was close fights I'll just beat him but you know Henderson he's still guarded but he's not fighting for money he won't just legacy he was just gold and no good mindset to him you know he's either everything or nothing it's a good you know it's a it's like it's a best best mindset you know he was like

honestly you know it's nothing surprise you know you know I'm sure he he can do so many other things and he has so many opportunities in life But, you know, he's not going to chase again, belt, because it's going to take so long, especially with injuries, how hard you're training and everything. He has a family, but now I'm sure his preparation is good. You know, he put everything to this training camp. He's going to do everything to beat me,

but I'm going to make sure I'll be the winner the February 17. Yeah, absolutely. Now, in a perfect world, Marab, you'd be fighting for the, title next week and you'd be sharing the card with your Georgian brother who's also fighting in the main event of course Ilya Tuporia who's fighting there a lot of Georgian fighters doing very very well in the UFC right now can I ask you what you think of Ilya's upcoming fight with Alexander Volcanowski I'm so happy for him and I'm proud of Ilya it's going to be great fight you know Alexander Volcanozky is my favorite fighter in UFC right now

but Ilya is my brother and my friend and my Georgian brother and I love him I'm training him and I'm supporting him

and I believe him I think he's going to win this fight and make history he's going to be first Georgian to win the belt and he knows he represents Spain too because he lives in Spain

that's where he trains and that's where his family lives right now and he's going to change history and it's going to be a big moment and I believe and I know that Ilya has every tools to become champion and beat the great Alexander Volcanozky.

Now be honest though Marab are you going to be a little mad at him that he might become champion before you because I think a lot of people myself included thought you were going to be the first Georgia champion. Be honest, Like, give me a little bit mad at him. No, no, no, no, trust me, no.

I'm so happy for him. And this is nothing like this, man. This is not competition. I'm just, he's my brother, you know, and I, you know, he deserved. He deserved. And he earned it to fight for the title and to come the champion. And then he will, he will do. And then I will have my moment, you know.

I have to, I have this fight and I have to win title fight. And then, because, you know, nobody gives me nothing and nobody gives me free, nothing in my life. And everything I have, I earn it. And I guess I'm going to earn it this time again. You know, I think I deserve title fight, but I guess not. So it's okay. I'm going to earn it.

You know, I'm going to be former two-vision champion, Henry Sehbud. and I'm going to end the title fight, and I believe the UFC will give me if not I don't know maybe my coach myself I will give me just jujitsu

now Marab I know you train with a lot of good people out in Las Vegas and I know you I don't want to diminish any of the guys you're working with but I know you posted a photo recently alongside another incredible band to my name Pachi

Mix who fights over in Belator. Am I wrong if I say that I think you and Patty are the two best bansomweights in mixed martial arts? Would I be pretty accurate? Because I think you two, I don't mean any offense to Sean O'Malley and I don't mean any offense to anybody else. But currently, I think there's a real argument to be made that you and Patchy are the two best bantam weights currently in the division.

Am I wrong? Thank you so much. Yes. I'm not saying about I'm the best, but I will say Pachimix is in. He's really best and he proved again. He's a bellator champion. He beat so many good guys. And when I training with him, he's special.

He has so many, so many submissions. And it's very hard to fight against him. You know, he's a very awkward stand-up. You know, like he's soft and he's very tall. He's the best. You know, I agree. Yeah, like if Aljo now moved up, I will say if Aljo still here, I will say Alge is the best. But Apache mix is best and I guess, you know, I am who I am.

I don't like talk about myself, you know. Like I said, I have to do it and I'm doing it and I'm just showing to fights, you know. But yeah, that's up to you and up to people how they can say if I am the best in Batwaite, just general, but Apache Mixing is a great great fight. I love him. How do you think how do you think Patchy would do

in the UFC in the Vantanway Division? Of course, he will do good, you know? He's good. He's good, but he's good, very good. You know, it's a fight. I mean, like, we see so many times before, like, let's say, Pride versus UFC, you know, it's a

fight and like everybody can beat everyone you know listen let's put it this way like um um i mean we they push pareda right pereira is a good fighter but we all know he's he don't have a wrestling you know if pereira fights anybody good wrestlers that everybody will beat pareda but they push pereira and pereira can become champion you know so like so let's say the guy, it doesn't matter, like maybe some guy fights small organization. They can fight UFC champion. And this guy who does not even have to fight UFC, they can beat UFC champion. But it's all about the end here, like who earn more, who has more fights.

More you fight UFC, there is more chance that you're going to lose, you know. So that's my point. And you have to end. It's not like this. So now they are pushing some other fighters, you know, they are giving. them big opportunities, but that's, my problem with this is they have to earn it. It doesn't mean that they are bad fighters, but they have to do like same thing. I have an 11-fights UFC and then all the weight cuts.

And sometimes I was sick in the fight. You know, I have some problems, but I still fight. I still show up. And sometimes the judges make the wrong decision. Sometimes referee make the wrong decision. And so if somebody give me chance five years ago, me fight for the title, maybe I will become champion five years ago.

Of course, nobody gave me because I don't have a hype. But because of somebody has a hype, we should not give them chance to the fight for the Shreight title. you know that's the thing of course patchy mix he's a good fighter and he you know he he will do very good the UFC but i'm saying general like um you know just um like general what i'm saying it's like sometimes i don't like when they push fighters they have only a couple fights and they just let them fight somebody top contenders you know that's that's my problem yeah Just say Sean O'Malley, Morab.

Just say it. I know you want to say Sean O'Malley. You want to say, I know you do. Yeah, of course, like, you know, he was fighting guys outside of top 15. And only in top 10, he fought Peter Young. And like me and like so many people think that Peter Ian win this fight. I was split decision, very, very competitive a fight. And they give O'Malley win.

and after this they they just save Omali and they let him wait here, fight for the title he uses his chance good and income champion now they give them time

again and so by this but I destroy Peter I dominate him but nobody gave me this chance so good man like I said all I have to focus is just myself and that's what I only can control myself, you know, and just training, get better, be humble,

and I'm just getting ready for February 17. I will make weight, and I'm going to show up, I'm going to fight hard, and hopefully everybody will enjoy it with my fights, and I'm going to do everything for the win against the great Henry Sehudo, and let's go from there. There will be no denying you with that win, Marab. There is no way they can deny you at that point. One last thing before I get you out of here, I mentioned, of course, your teammate and good friend Al Jermaine Sterling is moving up to Featherweight.

He's got a big fight at UFC 300 against Calvin Cater. How do you think he's going to do in Featherweight? I mean, you know, Aljo was a very big bantamette. I know it was a tough weight cut for him. But again, there are weight classes for a reason. You know, we've seen some guys like Robert Whitaker go up. He's found a lot of success. You know, we've seen some guys go down and find success like Josealdo.

What do you think? How do you think Aljo is going to do a featherweight? I think he will do very good because he big got and I don't think there's any weight issue. I don't think he's like small for this weight class and he will be like good like he was 135, you know. He will be the same thing. I believe he can beat the Calicator and, you know, you know, now it's where it's get tricky. I think

but I'll be champion and they're like my brother's ball. But, you know, it's okay. They would be fine. I would be fine. So I believe

Aljo can win the belt in 145 division too, but because of Elias there, I don't know, I don't want to see those two fights. Otherwise, yeah,

Aljo, he will do very good. Yeah, I was going to say, that's like the worst case. scenario, man. Ilya becomes champion and then Aljo is the number one contender. That's like your worst nightmare right there. Yeah, but

it's all good. It's a good problem to have two your best friends to be champion and the one one contender. It's okay. No, whatever whoever wins. It doesn't matter, I will love both of them. Yeah, absolutely.

Well, Marab, like I said, I know it doesn't make it any better. I I've said this many times to you, both audit off interviews. I think you are truly the number one contender. It breaks my heart. You're not getting the title fight. But if there's any question, if there's any debate, you go out there and be Henry Sehudo, UFC 298.

That settles it. I believe you will go out there. And if you win this fight, you will get that title shot. I don't think there's any denying you. So thank you so much, as always, for the time. I really do appreciate it. Obviously, have safe travels out to Anaheim. And thank you, as always, for doing this.

You know, I appreciate it. Of course, anytime. My pleasure. Diamond, I appreciate. Thank you for having me and all the best for you. I always enjoy interview with you. Thank you. Absolutely. We'll talk soon, okay? All right. All right. Bye-bye. Thank you. Listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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