Merab Dvalishvili head coach expected much more from Umar Nurmagomedov in the UFC 311 co-main event.
Considering Umar Nurmagomedov's undefeated record entering the UFC 311 co-main event and the fact that he has always competed against top-ranked opponents, Merab Dvalishvili and his team thought they were in for a tough night.
Originally, 'The Machine' wasn't too excited about fighting Nurmagomedov, believing he hadn't exactly earned his title shot.
Despite this, the Georgian showed why he is considered one of the greatest 135-pound fighters of all time by earning the unanimous decision victory, handing Nurmagomedov his first career loss.
READ MORE: 'He's a problem'… Sean O'Malley and his coach react to Merab Dvalishvili's wild win at UFC 311 as talk of rematches increases
Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG
Merab Dvalishvili expected a tougher fight from Umar Nurmagomedov
The Russian 29-year-old started the fight quite comfortably and seemed to take advantage of the opportunity and anticipation around him.
Despite this, 'The Machine''s patented cardio started to cause a problem for Umar in rounds three, four and five and the champion began to impose himself on the Russian with his inhuman pace.
Dvalishvili won the fight quite comfortably and even took the opportunity to show off in typical Merab fashion during the fight.
After the fight, the challenger claimed he broke his hand in the first round and shared images of his swollen hand.
After Nurmagomedov's performance, Dvalishvili's head coach, John Wood, admitted that the fight was easier than they initially expected.
“No, (nothing surprised us), not at all. He did what I thought he would do and maybe he broke his hand in the first round, maybe not, who knows,” John Wood began to explain.
“I don't think a broken hand affects your cardio from the last time I checked. I don't think your hand and your lungs are connected so I don't think that had anything to do with it and who cares, it's a fight, that's what happens.
“All I'm saying is maybe it was easier than expected and that's no disrespect. It's about how good Merab is and I really want people to notice that,” Wood continued.
Merab's coach sheds some light on his injuries at UFC 311
Although Umar blamed his broken hand for the reason for his loss, Dvalishvili said after his fight that he broke his back during his training camp, which came as a big shock to fans.
That wasn't the only injury the champion had going into the fight, as he had a serious cut on his leg, which resulted in an infection. Coach Wood has shed some light on the extent of Dvalishvili's injuries, claiming that if it had been any of his other fighters, he would undoubtedly have pulled them from their fight.
“His leg, his leg was cut off in a stand, he was walking along a stand and he had cuts all over, he left it and kept training through it, ended up getting stitched up too late and the stitches broke… His whole shin got infected and it was a concern to even get permission for this battle.
“Then his back, recently UFC embedded or countdown, came along and he was training on the street and jumped the wrong way and pinched a nerve and couldn't walk for a week. It was a complicated camp,” Wood explained.
After such a quick turnaround between his win over Sean O'Malley at UFC 306 and his first title defense, Dvalishvili may want some extended time off despite only receiving a seven-day medical suspension.
O'Malley was in attendance at UFC 311 and 'The Machine' is expected to match him again for his next title defense.
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