Media Merab storms out of interview when asked about Umar Nurmagomedov deserving a title shot

[VinceArch]

He isn't the first I've criticized for it, nor will he be the last lol. I'd really like to see Umar vs. Yan. But I think that is least likely. So I'm fine with umar getting the next title shot and yan fighting fig.

Who you picking between merab and o'Malley?

I'm pretty indifferent to O'Malley's antics. Phenomenal striker and he probably will get the win but it would be cool to see Merab get it. Granted he could already be champion if he took his shot last year but at least it's finally happening. I got O'Malley by clear cut decision but I'll have a small applause waiting if Merab can get the win.

 

[fortheo]

I'm pretty indifferent to O'Malley's antics. Phenomenal striker and he probably will get the win but it would be cool to see Merab get it. Granted he could already be champion if he took his shot last year but at least it's finally happening. I got O'Malley by clear cut decision but I'll have a small applause waiting if Merab can get the win.

I think O'malley clips him within the first 3 rounds and seals the deal. Won't be shocked if Merab can do his thing and wear o'malley out, and maybe find a very late finish vs ground and pound.

 

[UFConFOX]

The ufc never brought that fight to either guy for them to refuse.

Ah yes! "deserve" I'll have to search through all the posts you made lambasting the UFC on the Erceg and Rountree TS's. I'm sure you were front and center calling that out. Good man!

As far as this goes, Merab said:

-Others deserve it more - on merit it's totally reasonable and many would argue accurate
-He doesn't believe Umar when Umar says the UFC told him he's next if he beats Sandhagen

That latter is where I take issue w/ Merab. Sandman also said the same thing; W = title shot. Therefore, It seems reasonable to believe Umar and Dana hasn't done his default "We'll sit down and take a look at who makes sense..." bs.

And at the end the journo brought it back to "deserve", which is what pissed Merab off and I don't blame him. Merab never said Umar was undeserving, rather he was quite careful not to say that. He said others deserved it more. The journo tried to box him in and get him to back off or say it and I don't blame Merab for walking out. Pretty shady by journo. Merab shouldn't catch as much flak as he's catching for this.

 

[checktheknuckles]

Bros such a hater he rage quit the interview lol.


I can’t recall a fighter being so triggered by another fighters success. I think he knows Umar is coming.

But was it a real deal interview? Looked like some bum on the streets just asking him questions.

 

[VinceArch]

I think O'malley clips him within the first 3 rounds and seals the deal. Won't be shocked if Merab can do his thing and wear o'malley out, and maybe find a very late finish vs ground and pound.

Might be Merab's best way to victory. He's not much for finishing but if he can just outwork O'Malley on the ground and keep that pace he'll get the win. I do think O'Malley keeps him gun shy and picks him apart for 25 minutes though. Should Merab get the win we'll see if he faces Umar next. I don't think there is much talk about a rematch between Merab and Yan.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

"take the fight or don't", How can they take a fight that was never informally or formally offered? From what I've heard from Merab and Aljo, the UFC, hunter, etc, never approached them about fighting. They both have said this. You chose not to believe them, it is fine..

Merab was the only contender when they gave Chito the fight too. What's the common denominator here? hint, it isn't Aljo. It's the UFC and Merab. They were never interested in this guy as a contender in my opinion.

Do you even know how this business works?

They offered Islam to Arman….5 minutes after his fight with Charles. No contract, just Hunter walking up to him saying I need an answer in an hour, because the machine waits on no man and cards need to be booked.

Merab has publicly claimed repeatedly he would never fight Aljo, so he is in essence turning down the fight before it’s offered, so why offer it officially?

If Merab beats Suga it’s a waste of Suga as a potential “star” (whether he is one or not, the UFC seems to think so), better to give him a relatively simple rematch against a more beatable opponent.

I agree they aren’t interested him as a champion but they weren’t interested in Aljo either - sometimes you work with what you got but Merab was a square peg in a round hole being unwilling to fight Aljo.

 

[fortheo]

Ah yes! "deserve" I'll have to search through all the posts you made lambasting the UFC on the Erceg and Rountree TS's. I'm sure you were front and center calling that out. Good man!

As far as this goes, Merab said:

-Others deserve it more - on merit it's totally reasonable and many would argue accurate
-He doesn't believe Umar when Umar says the UFC told him he's next if he beats Sandhagen

That latter is where I take issue w/ Merab. Sandman also said the same thing; W = title shot. Therefore, It seems reasonable to believe Umar and Dana hasn't done his default "We'll sit down and take a look at who makes sense..." bs.

And at the end the journo brought it back to "deserve", which is what pissed Merab off and I don't blame him. Merab never said Umar was undeserving, rather he was quite careful not to say that. He said others deserved it more. The journo tried to box him in and get him to back off or say it and I don't blame Merab for walking out. Pretty shady by journo. Merab shouldn't catch as much flak as he's catching for this.

What are you on about? Did you quote the wrong one of my posts?

Must have meant to quote one of my posts about Umar, because only the bathtub brigade gets so riled up to respond to me like that.

By the way, erceg and rountree obviously didn't deserve their title shots lol. Why do you think I'd think otherwise? Or do you think it is my job to vocalize my opinion about about every title fight ever made?

Oh, and I never once said that umar doesn't deserve a title shot in this thread. Not sure what you're talking about.

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

Poor guy knows that if he beats Sean he's a 1and done champ if he has to fight Umar.

 

[Neck&Neck]

MerStaph is only good for TikTok videos

 

[fortheo]

Do you even know how this business works?

They offered Islam to Arman….5 minutes after his fight with Charles. No contract, just Hunter walking up to him saying I need an answer in an hour, because the machine waits on no man and cards need to be booked.

Merab has publicly claimed repeatedly he would never fight Aljo, so he is in essence turning down the fight before it’s offered, so why offer it officially?

If Merab beats Suga it’s a waste of Suga as a potential “star” (whether he is one or not, the UFC seems to think so), better to give him a relatively simple rematch against a more beatable opponent.

I agree they aren’t interested him as a champion but they weren’t interested in Aljo either - sometimes you work with what you got but Merab was a square peg in a round hole being unwilling to fight Aljo.

you're saying the same thing 5 times just with different wording man. People keep saying why offer it officially when merab made it clear he didn't want the fight. Well, the same reason why they offered tons of other fighters fights that those fighters made clear they didn't want. The ufc all the sudden doesn't offer fights that guys don't want? Really ? And again, aljo said hunter never approached him, even casually about the fight. You chose to not believe that.

I don't know man. I realize I'm taking a leap of faith when believing aljo's story, but by the same coin everybody else is talking about these guys refusing offers when we have zero proof that offers (even casual brief offers in passing) ever happened.

I already said that merab didn't help his chances, but I think the situation was far more nuanced than what you all are making it out to be. Instead, people take the easier route to shit on the fighters, as usual.

 

[Chama]

If you think you're the best than act like one. To me, it sounds like he being a bitch about it. You and your bro could've fought for the belt and make money together. Instead you waited and Umar caught up.

Ssup Dana ? Long time no see

 

[BowserJr]

Very sensitive and quite lucky to get the title shot. Also the whole showing his cut and then the staph on his arm on purpose seems weird to me, I just hope we aren't gonna get another UFC Bantamweight 135 title fight like TJ Dillashaw vs Sterling, that was disgusting and there was no "fight".

I'm not convinced Merab beat Aldo, I just don't see how you can win by landing virtually zero strikes and getting no takedowns, the fight was awful and horrible.. but really not sure Aldo lost

To be fair Aldo could be 5-0 in his last 5 fights and getting the title shot, against all top 10 contenders he beat as well, the only guy who wasn't in top 10 was his last fight, all the others were. Its a shame for Aldo because it will say 4-1 in his last 5 fight but I really am unsure that he actually lost that fight. Could be a awesome matchup with Sean vs Aldo next saturday at the Sphere.

Dude that whole debacle still bothers me. I'm not even a major Aldo fan. If any thing I just think Aldo v Aljo would've been a great fight which Aldo likely wins. No way Aljo takes Aldo down. Aldo likely wins the 135 belt.

In an alternate timeline Aldo wins the 155 belt vs Pettis and wins 135 belt vs Aljo. 1st time 3 division champ

 

[Staph infection]

He was wearing a seatbelt shirt and I think he was taller when sitting down.

 

[Chama]

Merab could've fought for the title a long time ago, but he refused to fight his buddy Aljo. That's entirely his fault.

Yeah, unlike boxing where nothing leaks, some of these guys are fuking stoopid.

They could have left the stoopid comradery behind with a big bag of 100k each / 200k the winner.

 

[Billthebutcher]

Hobbit doesn't storm, he merely puddles out of interview.

 

[Ladron4sherdog]

This guy has had a few incidents now where he's not coming across well. Looks a little triggered here, but losing your cool in front of a stranger about Umar is a little strange.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

you're saying the same thing 5 times just with different wording man. People keep saying why offer it officially when merab made it clear he didn't want the fight. Well, the same reason why they offered tons of other fighters fights that those fighters made clear they didn't want. The ufc all the sudden doesn't offer fights that guys don't want? Really ? And again, aljo said hunter never approached him, even casually about the fight. You chose to not believe that.

I don't know man. I realize I'm taking a leap of faith when believing aljo's story, but by the same coin everybody else is talking about these guys refusing offers when we have zero proof that offers (even casual brief offers in passing) ever happened.

I already said that merab didn't help his chances, but I think the situation was far more nuanced than what you all are making it out to be. Instead, people take the easier route to shit on the fighters, as usual.

Your point is fair, but I’m not shitting on him when I say he put himself in a position to get stalled out of a title fight.

Facts are he’s a wrestler that doesn’t finish people and refused publicly to fight his bro/teammate.

There isn’t anything to nuance about it - you sus’d it out earlier, they don’t want him as champ just like they didn’t want Aljo as champ. The chance to make them fight was like Dana’s wet dream, that probably made him hate them even more.

 

[RichardHarrow]

Sure he was Richard. When will people learn that the whole "nobody wants to fight him" narrative is played up by the organization and the managers in order to build hype?

Umar did nothing to deserve the kind of matches he was calling for. A top 15 guy refusing to fight a noob isn't ducking. If it is, than umar is ducking vinicius oliveira, a guy who has called unar out.

But it isnt ducking because everyone knows that these newer guys need to put their time in.....unless your last name is nurmagomedov.

Yea just like they did Khabib right ? You’re that same dude that claims Khabib didn’t have enough defenses despite others holding up the division due to the ufc / managers. Let’s be consistent here .

Sure he was Richard. When will people learn that the whole "nobody wants to fight him" narrative is played up by the organization and the managers in order to build hype?

Umar did nothing to deserve the kind of matches he was calling for. A top 15 guy refusing to fight a noob isn't ducking. If it is, than umar is ducking vinicius oliveira, a guy who has called unar out.

But it isnt ducking because everyone knows that these newer guys need to put their time in.....unless your last name is nurmagomedov.

So whats your metric for deserving a ranked fight ? It doesn’t make sense on rankings alone. If they’re so accurate why does “ a noob” beat Cory ? You’d rather hold the division up than see the best guys at the top ?

 

[Iroh]

Two things:

1. I completely understand his complaints. Umar has 1 ranked win, and that is it, yet is somehow calling his shots in the most stacked division of the UFC. Merab had to get like 5 ranked wins and beat 3 former champs to be next in line. He probably hates the favoritism.

Absolutely agree.

2. Despite all of that, the way he reacts also makes him look very insecure about that fight.

To people unable to comprehend your first point, Merab's impulsive/hotheaded nature and maybe dieting down affecting him. I get cranky too when hungry.

 

[F15]

Yea just like they did Khabib right ? You’re that same dude that claims Khabib didn’t have enough defenses despite others holding up the division due to the ufc / managers. Let’s be consistent here .

So whats your metric for deserving a ranked fight ? It doesn’t make sense on rankings alone. If they’re so accurate why does “ a noob” beat Cory ? You’d rather hold the division up than see the best guys at the top ?

The guy resorts to name calling when he gets called out for his hypocrisy. It is what it is..