Initially, Merab Dvalishvili, who welcomed the showdown against perennial candidate Alexandre Pantoja Next, confirmed he was happy to welcome Alexandre Pantoja to the bantamweight restrictions following his dominant victory at UFC 316 over the weekend.
Dvalishvili, who headlined his promotion’s return to New Jersey over the weekend, has already won his second successful title defense of the year.
And he got an impressive victory over his two-time opponent, Sean O’Malley. Dvalishvili received a third-round North and North-South choke submission victory in the third round following a previous title fight victory last September.
However, in January, O’Malley received an unanimous decision victory over undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. Passed Russia’s first professional defeat in the co-main event crash at UFC 311.
After winning the weekend, Dvalishvili welcomes a showdown against former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen.
“I love it (the fight against Cory Sandhagen),” Merab Dvalishvili told Joe Rogan in a postwar interview after UFC 316.
Dvalishvili today aims to carry over all corners to the crown and confirmed his willingness to take on the current flyweight champion Pantoja Next.
Merab Dvalishvili welcomes Alexander Pantoja Superfight after UFC 317
“I respect (Alexandre) Pantoja, Pantoja will be a tough opponent for me,” Merab Dvalishvili told Ariel Helwani Non-crowned tonight. “If Pantoja wants this and the UFC wants this, then I’m fine with that.”
Brazilian star Pantoja, set for joint headlines UFC 317 later this month, will defend the flyweight crown against former interim title challenger Kaikara France.
