Aljamain Sterling slams Umar Nurmagomedov for questioning Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC return timeline: “Earn it!”
Aljamain Sterling, Umar Nurmagomedov squabble over Merab Dvalishvili’s return
In a recent tweet, Nurmagomedov responded to Sterling and Dvalishvili’s stance regarding a quick turnaround.
cheap excuse https://t.co/OJha8itKCu
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) October 21, 2024
“Cheap excuse,” Nurmagomedov tweeted.
It didn’t take long for Sterling to issue a fiery reply.
Brother, this is a lazy rebuttal. Everything I said was accurate. If you were champ you would NEVER turn around for quick fights, and on your opponents desired timeline. You can’t use these false claims. Merab has competed against so many top guys and former champions and won.… https://t.co/lfd998bDPi
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 21, 2024
“Brother, this is a lazy rebuttal,” Sterling replied. “Everything I said was accurate. If you were champ you would NEVER turn around for quick fights, and on your opponents desired timeline. You can’t use these false claims. Merab has competed against so many top guys and former champions and won. Earn it like the rest of us.”
Nurmagomedov’s win over Sandhagen was his first over a Top 15 UFC opponent. Before defeating Sandhagen, Nurmagomedov defeated the likes of Bekzat Almakhan, Raoni Barcelos, and Nate Maness.
Sterling lost the bantamweight championship to O’Malley at UFC 292 last year. Since then, he’s made the full-time move up to featherweight, earning a recent win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.
After some early apprehension on rewarding Nurmagomedov with a title shot, Dvalishvili has tamed his stance in recent weeks. If the fight happens next for both bantamweights, it likely won’t happen until February at the earliest.
