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Dana White criticizes Merab Dvalishvili's decision as 'next-level stupid' in recent UFC roundup
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    Dana White criticizes Merab Dvalishvili’s decision as ‘next-level stupid’ in recent UFC roundup

    Dana White didn’t hold back during his post-event media session following Week 2 of his Contender Series.

    In addition to commenting on the performances of the competitors who fought Tuesday night at the Apex in Las Vegas, the UFC president ripped into fighters, including upcoming bantamweight title challenger Merab Dvalishvili, for what they choose to post on social media.

    Dvalishvili posted a video Tuesday of him receiving stitches for a small cut he sustained above his left eye, less than one month ahead of his UFC 306 title fight with defending 135-pound champion Sean O’Malley.

    “Well, the whole world knows about Merab’s cut, he posted about it,” White said, when asked what he knew about Dvalishvili’s cut. “Our guys are so dumb it’s next-level unbelievable. All the stuff that I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing (credit for) is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you something, it does not leak. Our guys just can’t (expletive) wait to throw it up on social media. It’s a small cut, it’s no big deal, but obviously, needed to be posted.”

    Dana White’s Contender Series


    Watch the newest season of Dana White’s Contender Series Tuesday nights on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+, as fighters look to earn a UFC contract.

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    Dvalishvili‘s upcoming opponent is an excellent and accurate striker who now knows one potential area of weakness to heading into their Sept. 14 championship main event at The Sphere.

    “And why the (expletive) would you want (O’Malley) to know that? It is next-level stupid,” White added. “Some of these guys are so stupid, it’s mind-boggling.”

    O’Malley worried aloud on social media that Dvalishvili would use it as an excuse to pull out of their fight, however, the No. 1-ranked contender responded by saying he’d be fine and that it was “just a little training injury.”

    Dvalishvili has won 10 consecutive fights dating back to 2018, including consecutive wins over former champions Jose Aldo, Pert Yan and Henry Cejudo.

    O’Malley is coming off his first successful title defence, when he won a unanimous decision over Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March.

    Other UFC news

    — Ilia Topuria confirmed to MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn that only his undisputed UFC featherweight title will be on the line at UFC 308 later this year when he faces Max Holloway. Topuria had hoped, and others had wondered, whether Holloway’s BMF Title, which he won in a lightweight bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April, would also be at stake. The UFC decided it is not.

    — The UFC announced Tuesday during the Week 2, Season 8, broadcast of DWCS that Mansur Abdul-Malik will make his UFC debut on Nov. 9 against fellow middleweight Dusko Todorovic at a UFC Fight Night event at the Apex. Abdul-Malik earned a UFC contract earlier this month with a win on Week 1 of the ongoing season of DWCS.

    — A pivotal women’s flyweight matchup between Karine Silva and Viviane Araujo is expected to take place at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in November, according to Nolan King and Farah Hannoun of MMAJunkie.

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    Dana White’s Contender Series Week 2: Four more UFC contracts awarded

    In a recent UFC roundup, Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), did not hold back in criticizing Merab Dvalishvili’s decision in his recent fight. White referred to Dvalishvili’s decision as “next-level stupid” and expressed his disappointment in the fighter’s performance.

    Dvalishvili, a rising star in the bantamweight division, faced off against Cody Stamann in a highly anticipated matchup. Despite being the favorite going into the fight, Dvalishvili ultimately lost via split decision. White was particularly critical of Dvalishvili’s strategy during the fight, questioning his decision-making and overall performance.

    White’s comments have sparked a debate among fans and analysts in the MMA community. Some have defended Dvalishvili, arguing that he put on a valiant effort and that White’s criticism may be unwarranted. Others have echoed White’s sentiments, pointing out that Dvalishvili made several mistakes during the fight that ultimately cost him the victory.

    Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it is clear that Dvalishvili will need to regroup and learn from this experience if he hopes to continue his ascent in the UFC. With White’s harsh criticism ringing in his ears, Dvalishvili will need to make some adjustments to his game plan and approach in order to bounce back from this setback.

    As for White, his comments serve as a reminder of the high standards and expectations that come with competing in the UFC. As the head of the organization, White is not afraid to speak his mind and hold fighters accountable for their performances. While some may view his criticism as harsh, it is ultimately a reflection of his passion for the sport and desire to see fighters reach their full potential.

    In the end, only time will tell how Dvalishvili responds to White’s criticism and whether he is able to bounce back from this setback. One thing is for certain – the world of MMA is never short on drama and intrigue, and this latest development is just another chapter in the ongoing saga of the UFC.