Umar Nurmagomedov Shuts Down ‘Khabib Privilege’ Accusations from Rival Petr Yan

On the other hand, the bantamweight title clash between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov was fiercely contested, with fans debating competitiveness afterward. Initially, Nurmagomedov displayed exceptional striking, landing sharp combinations and controlling distance, making Dvalishvili struggle to impose his signature wrestling dominance.

However, as the fight entered the last rounds, Dvalishvili’s legendary cardio took over, allowing him to pressure and outwork the Dagestan fighter. Adding to the difficulties, he reportedly broke his hand in the early rounds, which significantly impacted his striking effectiveness.

Ultimately, Dvalishvili’s late-round dominance and suffocating pace overshadowed Nurmagomedov’s early success, securing him a hard-earned victory. However, according to the Georgian, that fight was extremely easy for him, in order to mock Team Khabib. 

Umar Nurmagomedov is ready to return in October 

Umar Nurmagomedov’s loss against Merab Dvalishvili was a testament that Dagestani wrestling can be defeated if planned accordingly. Nurmagomedov’s loss deeply affected his coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was visibly frustrated after witnessing the defeat. In an interview, the ‘Eagle’ admitted the setback hurt, but emphasized allowing Umar to recover and return at his own pace. 

The defeat ended their shared undefeated legacy, marking a rare moment of vulnerability for the team. Despite the outcome, Umar remains mentally strong, refusing to let the loss define his career or diminish his championship aspirations. During his latest press conference, Nurmagomedov talked about his return and also gave a timeline on what fans can expect. 

Yes, I was given Abu Dhabi [in October]. I was talking to my manager and this is the way that we decided is gonna work better…I would prefer to fight in a 5-round main event, but the decision was made to fight there.

Umar Nurmagomedov continued.

UFC 321 will feature an electrifying heavyweight title match as Tom Aspinall defends against former interim champion Ciryl Gane . The event takes place on October 25 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and hype around it is massive. 

It would be interesting to see who will be standing against Umar Nurmagomedov inside the octagon in Abu Dhabi. With Islam Makhachev potentially fighting in November, Khabib Nurmagomedov would be pretty busy with training camps for both of his top fighters.