Dana White Criticizes Merab Dvalishvili's Video

UFC President Dana White has expressed frustration with Merab Dvalishvili for publicly sharing footage of a cut on his face just three weeks before his bantamweight title fight against Sean O’Malley. The bout is scheduled for September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. White criticized Dvalishvili's decision to post the injury on Instagram, stating, “The whole world knows about Merab’s cut, he posted it,” and lamented the lack of discretion among fighters regarding their injuries. During a press conference, White emphasized the importance of keeping such information private, particularly in contrast to boxing, where leaks about injuries are rare. He described Dvalishvili's actions as “next-level stupid,” questioning why a fighter would want to give their opponent insight into a potential weakness. This sentiment was echoed by a journalist who noted O’Malley’s striking precision, suggesting Dvalishvili may have inadvertently provided a target for his rival. In response to the footage, O’Malley tweeted a warning to Dvalishvili, expressing concern over the possibility of him pulling out of the fight. Dvalishvili reassured O’Malley, stating, “Calm down – it’s all good – just a little training injury. I’m coming for you O’Malley – stronger than ever.” Despite Dvalishvili's impressive wrestling and cardio, he has faced criticism for his fighting style, which has resulted in only one finish in his last ten bouts. O’Malley, the reigning champion, is set to defend his title for the second time after previously defeating Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Vera.