Why was Merab deluded enough to think he'd get Conor/O'Malley type treatment?

[MarioLemieux]

This is what puzzles me most about his campaign not to fight Umar, why did the least marketable or exciting fighter male champion in the UFC somehow think he was going to get diva treatment and escape the UFC's matchmaking?

He just made himself look scared of Umar for no reason, and yeah I heard the "story" from Dana that he finally went into the UFC office and demanded the fight, but let's be realisitic, that's beside the point I'm making about him acting like deluded diva, and he prob finally woke up to the reality that the UFC and the fans wanted this fight next and there was not a damn thing he could do but give up his title to stop it.

 

[MigitAs]

Going from relative obscurity to champ is jarring, a big change to Merab’s life; I don’t begrudge him acting out a little bit. Happy the right fight got made.

 

[Rhood]

He thought he could be the next Nate Diaz after Diaz beat Conor.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Happens to a lot of these guys. Tyron Woodley expected the Conor treatment but never got it, even after calling Dana and UFC racist.

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Merab is the wrong kind of Caucasian... which is ironic

Edit: Also, he's a Fugly lil' fella with a boring style and not so great English speaking skills
#FinishingMatters

 

[Fergelmince]

This is what puzzles me most about his campaign not to fight Umar, why did the least marketable or exciting fighter male champion in the UFC somehow think he was going to get diva treatment and escape the UFC's matchmaking?

He just made himself look scared of Umar for no reason, and yeah I heard the "story" from Dana that he finally went into the UFC office and demanded the fight, but let's be realisitic, that's beside the point I'm making about him acting like deluded diva, and he prob finally woke up to the reality that the UFC and the fans wanted this fight next and there was not a damn thing he could do but give up his title to stop it.

This is what happens when the echo chamber of eastern european wrestling nuthuggers leads a fighter to believe he's the greatest thing that ever happened to the UFC.

 

[MarioLemieux]

Merab is the wrong kind of Caucasian... which is ironic

I don't think it has anything to do with his ethnicity. Topuria is also Geogian but the UFC are treating him like the second coming. Dana spent a year publically begging Khabib to come back to the UFC. It depends on the fighter.

 

[Sms_productions713]

Before the Omalley fight, this was his way of thinking to even get the title fight. By begging the champ to tell people who he is because his fights cant do it for him.

This is probably still the most pathetic thing I've ever seen

 

[ThroughTheDakr]

Winning the title aka being the best in the division gets to their head.

I think Merab was genuinely pissed how much he had to do versus Umar and thought the UFC or at least the fans would agree

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

He thought he could be the next Nate Diaz after Diaz beat Conor.

he needed a finish if he wants that