Former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has reacted to Islam Makhachev’s recent comments about him while trying to squash any beef that may have started brewing between him and Makhachev.
After Makhachev successfully defended his 170-pound belt against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 and got his hand raised, the Dagestani phenom and his team, while celebrating the victory, raised the Russian flag inside the octagon.
“The Machine” was not happy the promotion allowed Makhachev to bring the Russian flag to the octagon but didn’t allow him to bring the Georgian flag, which led Dvalishvili to get a Georgian flag tattooed on his chest. While watching Makhachev’s UFC 330 post-fight celebration, Dvalishvili said:
“I thought they were not allowed to have a flag there, bro. They don’t let me use the flag. This flag is bent everywhere in the world, and only, of course, they show it here in UFC, and this guy is not even from the same place.”
Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments below:
Makhachev was not happy with Dvalishvili’s reaction. In response, the 34-year-old quipped that “The Machine” has been jealous of his achievements in the UFC, and at UFC 333, champion Petr Yan will beat Dvalishvili again, bring the Russian flag inside the octagon, and “finally make him [Merab Dvalishvili] shut up.”
Check out Islam Makhachev’s comments below:
Merab Dvalishvili addresses his beef with Islam Makhachev
Earlier today via his social media, Merab Dvalishvili made it clear that he did not mean to offend Islam Makhachev and added that he’s a fan of the pound-for-pound king. Explaining his post-UFC 330 reaction regarding Makhachev and the Russian flag, he wrote on X:
“I like Islam Makhachev. I think he’s a great and humble champion. I respect all the hard work he has put into his career, I have nothing but respect for him. But when I saw his team bring the Russian flag into the Octagon, I was upset. And the reason I reacted that way is because, first, during all five of my UFC title fights, I was never allowed to bring my Georgian or American flag into the cage.”
“Second reason for me, this is very personal because of what Russian politics and the Russian government have done to my country. Russia occupies around 20% of Georgia, and there has been a history of war, occupation, and suffering against my Georgian people. Russia has also been responsible for terrible violence in Chechnya, and they are still killing people in Ukraine today.”
Dvalishvili doesn’t harbor any hatred toward the Russian people, but he doesn’t share the same sentiments toward the Russian government, politics, or media:
“I also want to make one thing very clear: I don’t hate Russian people. I hate Russian politics and the Russian government. My problem is with the government and its actions, not with ordinary Russian people. And for me, the people of the Caucasus — Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and other parts of the region — have their own identities, cultures, and histories. I respect the people of the Caucasus.”
“So again, this was never about Islam personally. And last thing I want to say is that the The Russian media is always asking me provocative questions, and they will never translate this video honestly or show what I’m actually saying, because it doesn’t fit the narrative they want to create. Reality is the Russian government is a dictatorship and corrupt. There is no freedom of speech and if you protest anything in Russia you go to jail. This is facts.”
Check out Merab Dvalishvili’s comments below:
