Merab Dvalishvili did not expect to be fighting José Aldo next time out.
Aldo, the longtime WEC and UFC featherweight champ, is a legend of the sport and on a three-fight winning streak at bantamweight. He is right in the title picture but will now face Dvalishvili on the main card of UFC 278: Usman vs Edwards. The Georgian admits he was surprised he got offered the fight.
Merab Dvalishvili Talks Ahead of Bout With Aldo
“When UFC call me and give me this fight, I was shocked because I was ready for everyone, but not for Jose Aldo,” Dvalishvili said at UFC 278 media day. “I was thinking everybody else but not José Aldo, because I was thinking I wasn’t big enough. But I guess I am, and he take fight with me. It means a lot.”
Dvalishvili is on a seven-fight win streak after losing his first two UFC fights, although both of the losses are controversial. The Georgian is currently ranked sixth at bantamweight and coming off a TKO win over Marlon Moraes.
Heading into his fight on Saturday, however, Dvalishvili has made it known Aldo is the toughest test of his career. Aldo has a 90-percent takedown defense and has fought some high-level wrestlers in his career, but Dvalishvili is confident he will get Aldo down and will be able to win the fight that way.
“We will find out,” Dvalishvili said with a laugh. “He has a good wrestling defense. He fight Frankie Edgar two times, but I think I can still take him down, and if not, I’m still going to keep forward pressure and fight hard. But I believe I will take him down.”
What’s Next for Dvalishvili?
If Dvalishvili does get Aldo down and wins the fight, what is next for him is uncertain. His close friend and training partner Aljamain Sterling is the bantamweight champion, and both have been vocal in saying they won’t fight one another.
For now, all Dvalishvili cares about is beating Aldo and working his way up the ranks. He will figure out what’s next after the fight.
