Umar Nurmagomedov pushes for Merab Dvalishvili rematch after first pro loss

Nurmagomedov, whose first defeat came when Dvalishvili won their UFC title fight by unanimous decision, says the rivalry is driving a return to the same opponent, even as Dvalishvili heads toward another championship assignment.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Umar Nurmagomedov wants Merab Dvalishvili next, framing the request as more than matchmaking and closer to a personal deadline. According to Yahoo Sports, Nurmagomedov is targeting a rematch with Dvalishvili after suffering the first loss of his professional career when Dvalishvili beat him by unanimous decision in a UFC title bout last January.

That original title fight matters because it was the moment Nurmagomedov’s undefeated start met a definitive verdict from judges. The reported emphasis on Nurmagomedov’s “first loss” suggests he believes the matchup outcome can be different in a second meeting, and that the technical and tactical lessons from the first fight are now driving his next step.

Yahoo Sports reports that Nurmagomedov is “eager to run it back” with Dvalishvili, commonly abbreviated as “The Machine.” In the same report, Nurmagomedov indicates he wants the rematch regardless of what happens in Dvalishvili’s next UFC championship fight.

The timing element is tied to Dvalishvili’s scheduled title workload. The Yahoo Sports story says Nurmagomedov’s push for the rematch is meant to stay active even if Dvalishvili’s focus and preparation shift to his next championship bout. The report characterizes that next fight as Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 title assignment versus Petr Yan.

Within UFC’s title ecosystem, rematch demands typically surface when a challenger or champion feels a margin was misread, when styles create a recurring strategic chess match, or when the first meeting settled an argument that neither fighter believes is fully resolved. Nurmagomedov’s stance, as described by Yahoo Sports, leans toward the second bucket, with the rivalry energy framed as a motivator and not a bargaining tactic.

A second fight between the same two men would also carry immediate relevance for the division’s title picture. If Dvalishvili’s next bout alters the champ’s momentum in either direction, a Nurmagomedov rematch becomes a clear “bookend” for the title reign narrative: it would test whether Nurmagomedov’s adjustments can overturn the judge’s decision, or whether Dvalishvili can reaffirm dominance over the same style-match problem.

For now, the main watch item is not a confirmed booking but Nurmagomedov’s insistence on proximity. The Yahoo Sports report presents the request as “next,” meaning Nurmagomedov is trying to get the rematch onto the short list while Dvalishvili’s title run is still in motion.

If the UFC chooses to move forward with the rematch, the build-up likely centers on what changed between the first encounter and the rematch window, including how Nurmagomedov approaches the moments that decided the unanimous decision. If the UFC instead prioritizes other opponents depending on how Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 fight turns out, Nurmagomedov’s comments set an expectation that he intends to keep pressure on until the second chapter is written.

Why It Matters

A rematch request puts Nurmagomedov back into the center of the UFC title conversation, directly connected to the outcome of his first career defeat.
Because the rematch is tied to the same unanimous-decision title result, a second meeting would clarify whether the first fight was a definitive read or a correctable problem.
The insistence on timing indicates Nurmagomedov is trying to influence the division’s pecking order while the champion prepares for his next assignment.
If booked, the rematch would likely shape how fans and matchmakers evaluate adjustments after a title-level matchup changes hands by decision.

Sources

Key Facts

Umar Nurmagomedov is seeking a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili, according to Yahoo Sports.
Nurmagomedov’s first professional loss came in a UFC title fight against Dvalishvili, which Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision.
The Yahoo Sports report says Nurmagomedov wants the rematch “next.”
The report states Nurmagomedov wants the fight regardless of the outcome of Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 title bout.
Yahoo Sports identifies Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 title opponent as Petr Yan.