Future UFC Hall of Famer Dominick Cruz had an interesting view of the Bantamweight Goat shop of Merab Dvalishvili.
UFC Bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has the opportunity to close a rivalry at UFC 316 not only this weekend, but also to add more to his excellent fighting of combat.
Dvalishvili will be confronted with Sean O'Malley for the second time in less than a year this Saturday in Newark. After defending the Bantamweight title at UFC 311, DvalishHvili will make the rapid turning point to welcome O'Malley back to the Octagon in the second chapter of their rivalry.
In anticipation of UFC 316 there is much talk about DvalishVili's all-time legacy in the Bantamweight department of the UFC. A victory on Saturday was able to take him a step closer to crowned as the largest Bantamweight of all time.
After beating Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvili responds to UFC 311. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Dominick Cruz weighs on the goat shop of Merab Dvalishvili prior to UFC 316
Dominick Cruz, who retired earlier this year, is generally considered the largest Bantamweight of all time. But while Cruz is on top of the list in the heads of many fans, Dvalishvili makes a strong thing.
During a recent performance on the Podcast of Bohnfire, Cruz weighed the banta weight with itself and Dvalishvili.
“The fact that even a conversation is involved with me, it's not up to me to decide something like that,” said Cruz about the goat shop of Dvalishvili. 'I am not saying it is this level, but as parallel you are talking about LeBron [James] And [Michael] Jordan, right?
“You will never convince me, never – what is not under any circumstances – that LeBron is better than Jordan,” Cruz continued. “For me. But then you have the last that the opposite will say. I think it's great that there is even a conversation. If there is a conversation, then that is what this is about – and you know what? Merab also makes a conversation. Good for him.” (H/T MMA Mania)
Cruz continued with detailed why Dvalishvili belongs in the Bantamweight goat conversation after just one defending defense.
“This guy is running through the ladder,” Cruz explained. “This guy has had to fight up and down on the ladder in exactly the same way as I am. I had to make my way through the most difficult fights in the division, several rematches, before I got my shots. I had to earn every scrap, and I see that similarity in Merab's battles. I tip my hat against him.”
Although Dvalishvili has a way to catch Cruz's different Bantamweight -awards, a victory would be on his way this weekend to surpass the UFC legend. Dvalishvili enters UFC 316 on a 12-field profit racing, including recent victories over Umar Nurmagomedov and Henry Cejudo.
Sean O'Malley's goat shop made by UFC legend for Merab Dvalishvili Rematch
In addition to the goat considerations of Dvalishvili, O'Malley gets some love for UFC 316. UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently stated that O'Malley this weekend should be considered the greatest bantam weight of all time with a victory over Dvalishvili.
Before he fell to Dvalishvili in UFC 306 last September, O'Malley won the UFC Bantamweight title by eliminating Aljamain Sterling and then defending the belt against Marlon Vera. UFC 316 is the first time that O'Malley has fought with Dvalishvili since his first confrontation.
This weekend there is a lot on the line in the rematch between Dvalishvili and O'Malley. The winner will contribute to their CV and their legacies.