Islam
Makhachev believes Merab
Dvalishvili has never been happy for him.
Makhachev (29-1) defended his
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title for the first
time with a unanimous decision win over Ian Garry at
UFC
330. Makhachev’s team raised the Russian flag inside the
Octagon while he was being declared the winner, drawing the ire of
Dvalishvili.
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Makhachev says Dvalishvili has never been happy about his
success ahead of Yan-Dvalishvili III
Dvalishvili (21-5) was clearly unhappy to see the Russian flag
raised in the Octagon. “The Machine” claims it is unfair, as he is
allegedly not allowed to raise the Georgian flag after wins.
Dvalishvili also argues that the Russian flag is banned from most
sporting events due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Responding to Dvalishvili, Makhachev says that the former UFC
bantamweight champion has never been happy to see him succeed.
Makhachev notes that Petr Yan
raised the Russian flag after dethroning Dvalishvili last
December.
Yan is scheduled to defend his title in a trilogy fight against
Dvalishvili at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev hopes his countryman
defeats Dvalishvili again and raises the Russian flag to shut him
up for good.
“From the very beginning, he wasn’t happy about my success in the
Octagon,” Makhachev said at a recent press conference. “But I don’t
pay attention to those things. He’s already spoken about this many
times. But Petr Yan beat him and raised the flag in the Octagon. I
think [Yan] will beat him again now and silence him for good.”