LAS VEGAS – UFC CEO Dana White was baffled by Merab Dvalishvili’s decision-making Tuesday.
After suffering a facial laceration 25 days prior to his upcoming UFC 306 title challenge vs. Sean O’Malley, Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) posted multiple video clips of the slice on social media.
White was so incensed by the decision, he even complimented boxing during the Dana White’s Contender Series 68 post-fight news conference Tuesday.
“The whole world knows about Merab’s cut,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable. All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what. It does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media. It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted.
“… Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”
As images and videos of the clip went viral, Dvalishvili tried to calm speculation by assuring the fight is not jeopardized, a claim his manager Oren Hodak reiterated to MMA Junkie on Tuesday.
Dana White goes OFF on Merab Dvalishvili for posting his cut. 😳
“Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable. … It is next-level stupid.” pic.twitter.com/Q4R20hsbsf
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 21, 2024
Shortly after White’s comments Tuesday, Dvalishvili went on Instagram live to show that he was already back in the gym for what he said was his third training session of the day.
UFC 306, aka Noche UFC, takes place Sept. 14 and is the promotion’s highly anticipated debut at Sphere in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is the card’s main event.
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