Dana White gives up on unraveling the mystery of Merab Dvalishvili.
The top contender in the 135-pound division has gained attention for his viral social media posts, but his recent antics have left White exasperated. Dvalishvili recently showcased a severe cut above his left eye, just weeks before his headline fight against bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 on Sept. 14.
White was puzzled by Dvalishvili’s decision to publicize his injury, and his subsequent video of removing stitches with scissors only added to the confusion.
“Isn’t he something else?” White remarked after the clip surfaced following Tuesday’s Contender Series event at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. “I think he’s just messing with me now, to be honest.”
The severity of Dvalishvili’s injury remains unknown, raising concerns for the UFC and its fans as such injuries have led to fight cancellations in the past. Dvalishvili, however, appears confident that the cut won’t affect his title challenge.
After starting his UFC journey with two losses, Dvalishvili has gone on a remarkable 10-fight win streak. His path to a title shot was delayed due to his friend Aljamain Sterling holding the title, which O’Malley claimed at UFC 292 in August 2023.
White believes in Dvalishvili’s judgment and trusts that he isn’t jeopardizing his long-awaited title shot or the highly anticipated main event, touted as the “greatest live sporting event of all time.”
“Let him do as he pleases,” White stated. “But those scissors he used? They’re meant for delicate work, not what he used. But hey, good for him.”