UFC 311: Umar Nurmagomedov Is Fighting For Legacy And Belts

Los Angeles – UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov feels he has a mental edge over champion Merab Dvalishvili just days from their title fight at UFC 311 on Saturday night.

The challenger believes the champ is nervous.

“He nervous. Of course he(‘s) nervous and maybe he(‘s) upset with UFC. They pushed him to fight with me,” Nurmagomedov told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.

“Even before when he was not champion he (wouldn’t) take this fight. He doesn’t want to fight with me. When he (became) champion I think he tried to fight with other (fighters). Because other guys going to be easy fight for him.”

Nurmagomedov (18-0) did not back away from continuing to say that Dvalishvili wanted no part of a fight with him. Even before he was champion Nurmagomedov says his opponent at UFC 311 had been avoiding him.

“Merab, don’t be scared. Nobody understood why you try to avoiding. Dana (White) said I’m next. Joe Rogan, after his fight ask(ed) him what about Umar? He’s next challenger. Everywhere he tried to avoid,” he said.

“It’s not like me what I said all words. Merab tried to (avoid) this fight.”

Nurmagomedov isn’t just fighting for a title at UFC 311. His last name has a rich history in MMA namely with his cousin, UFC Hall Of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, and brother Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Add on teammate UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and you have the makings of royalty.

For Nurmagomedov it isn’t pressure. Having been around for a long time now he feels there is no pressure for him going into his first UFC title fight.

“We know who we are. We know how we’re ready. I don’t feel pressure,” he told Cageside Press.

“It’s going to be good legacy for us. When we will become older we’re going to tell our kids do you know your father was fighting for the title? Our team was great. It’s awesome. I think we’re going to be, our family our team, going to be like Gracie. Everybody will know what we did in MMA.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Umar Nurmagomedov above. He challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 311 on Saturday night.