Bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili took questions from the press at the official UFC Las Vegas media day ahead of facing Merab …
hello everybody all right morale well it’s a main event fight week is it feel different for you I’m not really yeah I’m fighting against the former Champion Peter Young and this fight means a lot for me and yeah this is mainly went but every fight in UFC very important for me even I was fighting first first fight on the card or prelims or pay-per-view every fight in UFC is very important and um uh I have to make sure I win this fight and uh that’s all why is this fight in particular more important for you I have many reasons uh [Music] first this fight is not only fight this is personal for me he’s from Russia from Georgia and we all know Russia what they do what they doing to Ukrainian now what they did to Georgia and Russia is a politic it’s not Democratic country and uh you know I wanna win for my people and I have so many support from my country and so someone support from Ukraine too and but Peter is glorified that his former Champion we all know he’s top he’s as a fighter he’s a great fighter he’s dangerous and um he don’t have whole anywhere you know he’s good Striker he defends wrestling good you know his cardio is good and um uh and this is my toughest fight but and I have other reasons you know he I think he’s a great fighter good family guy but he’s not a humble guy and he’s not he’s not great human I think you know but it doesn’t matter how good fighter you are you have to be good person you have to treat the people well and I don’t care if you’re a good fighter or no I just want to be a good man and then for people and for give good example for other people and you know he’s he’s cheated you know he was Champion he don’t know Rule and then he was disrespect my friend and he don’t use his platform when he was Champion you know he wasn’t doing like great things you know he wasn’t like doing any charity or any like like humble things you know and I don’t think he’s a good good guy you know like maybe he’s good good for his family but other than that you know what he’s doing nothing uh he seems to to think that you’re creating this drama between the two of you because he says that you don’t have anything else that you’re not interesting he says that when you’re when the cameras are off you’re a different person so what do you have to say to him hey okay I’m gonna start from uh beginning so when I see him one weeks ago in UFC pi and I tell him to we was talking I have some questions because I bet with his friend fifty thousand dollar he said his friend say Anatoli Malkin he’s a uh one FC double champion and he is Peter’s good friend and he said Peter is going to win this fight and let’s bet 50 000 I said okay let’s bet and I’ll just winning and we make bad and all his country all my country know about it and um it was big deal and uh of course I’ll Joe win beat Peter and this guy asked me to give him my uh account number to deposit money he never sent me money after he said he will he will fight in one FC and one FC will send me directly money and but they uh they never sent me when I asked him he said he asked me again my account number and I give my Georgian account and uh a U.S account because he was complaining about USC cannot send me money because of sanctions but in Georgia he was able to send me money no problem but he he tell me his friend Anatoly told me to he send me money by and money never came so and then I was asking where is why aren’t your friend pay me money and why don’t he where is my money and he said I tell Anatoly do I win I’ll just second fight and I’m then don’t pay mirror money what kind of man he is he’s a he’s a he’s not a good man he’s not a man and I hope Anatoly he is the man of his world and he’s gonna do a writing and he’s gonna pay me if not I’m going to Thailand I’m gonna find him you know and so Peter when I tell him to I was talking I have some other questions you know how he don’t know rule he was championing and every time we fight right before rapper is coming and explaining rules every state you know Nevada or New York or even in Europe a Republicans and explains the rules and first thing they tell you to when opponent is ground they will call you ground don’t hit me don’t need or don’t kick and no I no no I pokes no low blow like and then I said how you don’t know rules any he just keep saying so anyways and then he first time he said okay let’s do a video and then um uh and then tomorrow was supposed to do it like to like video like to me and him and then he back up he bitched out like he he said no to small and then yesterday when I see him I tell him let’s do it you know I was still respect to him I said let’s do a video Let’s promote this fight you know since we don’t have a press conference let’s promote and then but he said no no but and then I was nice to him uh without camera because I met him right before fight I’ll just fight and then like in day before he said when he’s gonna see I’ll just him he’s gonna kill all just him and then I was with my two other fighter friends and Peter was with his coach of course like I don’t wanna take his moment he has a fight he was supposed to fight aljo and I don’t want any drama or other I don’t want to of course fight him I said focus on your fight best of luck for you and let’s talk after fight you know and I was nice you know I don’t wanna like I keep a professional and when aljo beat him I forgive him I’m like Moana I don’t care anymore you know who cares about him and uh second time I see him in Abu Dhabi he was fighting omali I see him right before this fight and and then he I was sight I was like a little away and then he pointed at me and he say oh I look small and then I go I was smiling I I look I like I know I sizing him up and I was like nice smile you know whatever I was respectful because he has a fight again I don’t want to take his moment you know that was his time and and then he pointed me again he said I am a zero so I’m gonna show him if I’m zero I’m gonna beat him and I’m gonna make him humble that’s all but if he’s the man he should be face me and we have to do a video and let’s talk before the fight because we’re gonna fight professionals you know we’re not We’re not gonna fight free We’re not gonna fight free you know in the street you know we’re gonna play professional but let’s talk let’s find out who’s the real man and who’s the you know who’s the right or wrong you know he knows he’s a he’s a he don’t want to talk with me and that’s why he’s pick up and you don’t want to like uh do a video video talk with me you know we are professionals and we should do this and promote this fight or like this just just find out like what what’s his in his head and what he’s thinking of about just other than he’s a good fighter what other good things he can do in life and what why you know like because when he told me his friends don’t have to pay me like you know when we bet he don’t have to pay because he don’t lost like what kind of man he is so he’s a liar and a piece of so that’s okay um when you look at this fight do you imagine going in there and beating him really quickly or would you rather you know last the five rounds and and torture him through five rounds which which one are you kind of hoping for actually I want to knock him out but he’s tapest opponent I ever have uh and uh it’s gonna be tough fight it won’t be easy for me but um like I said I’m gonna look for knockout sweet um if not I don’t care I take any win uh the decision submission or Split Decision I don’t care I’m I just want to win against him and uh like uh yeah like I said make him humble you know because he’s cocky Russian bully and I don’t like that I know right now there’s some political stuff going on in Georgia I know a fighter was arrested for protesting yeah um would a win mean something for the country uh always you know my country is democratic country and people are always been protesting uh you know um and then now like there is another protest in my country and um and our professional fighter Mata sanikiza was protesting and then he got arrested you know uh free mathisonics I I wish him to he pretty soon because he’s a great fighter and he will be out you know it’s my country’s Democratic country and he was fighting for Democratic rules and everything so and so everything will be good mate will be out soon and my country will continue Life as a democratic country and my country very welcome for visitors for guests uh we love guests even Russia is our enemy with when Russian people coming to our country they love it we treat them well you know our guest is from the God and we are we are we are very famous with hospitality and we love guests and we love everybody and in my country all religions we are Christian country Democratic country but all religion we all live peace and we all live good and I’m proud of this and my country is good and my country you can protest whatever you want but you know uh so yeah I don’t want to go to political but everything will be good no matter I hope mate will be out soon and uh it’s it’s part of the life you know this is um and we know you’re not going to fight Al Jermaine but if you win this fight like the next logical step would be a title fight or you would have to change divisions what’s what’s the plan if you get through this first I have to win this fight against Peter Young and after I will beat him uh and he’s planning to move up weight class and if aljo decide that and if he wants to do it I will fight title next I’m not gonna fight another opponent but if aljo decide to stay and fight another contenders in a clean Division I will fight somebody else or maybe cut to 125 and fight whoever will be championed there otherwise like I said ipal Joe decided to move up I will fight title next I’m not fighting I don’t have nothing to prove I actually I don’t I don’t have to fight Peter either because I have eight by doing streak Peter has uh 25 I think from four he lost three so and then he lost two he’s coming from last to lose streak so but you know I want to be busy and uh it’s actually I’m giving him a chance to you know like you know if he beats me that I guess he will be Contender for title too uh but you know I don’t want to wait and I want to challenge myself and then this is um yeah this is how UFC wanted how he wants actually he he asked UFC to this fight and okay no problem UFC asked me I have never say never no to my opponent my challenge whoever you have to give me whenever they give me I’m always willing by anybody anytime anywhere and now I’m always will do but like after this win like I said if aljo decides to move after it depends two more times but it decides move up and now I fight title if not then I will clean division thank you thank you murab right here um I wonder you have a great team and training partners and you’ve just helped prepare aljo for two fights against him so you know him really well and your team knows him really well it kind of reminds me when Dominic Cruz finally lost to an alpha male fighter because they had fought him so many times so how much does that help you having helped out Joe train for these fights and having you know your coaches and your team have that experience of game planning for him for two title fights it’s a good question but even Alger fought him two times Peter is still dangerous and he he’s you know how are you gonna prepare fight for him you know his fight hearts always you know he has a great striking uh good wrestling defense even he can wrestling too he has a good cardio he always fights hard you know he’s former Champion it’s hard to prepare fight with you gotta go War you know but I’ll just tell me one thing you know yes Peter is tough but he’s human you know I’ll do believe I can I can beat him you know I have to do Just My Style and I can beat him so I believe myself and uh I want to win this fight so so much and I’m just gonna put everything into it and um I believe myself and I make sure I’ll be winner on Saturday do you see and I know you’re not going to tell us what it is but do you see something that you can capitalize on like for example something like Alexa Grosso just did against Valentina he does this you do that have you do you see something that you know you can attack the minute you see it in the Octagon no I don’t see any holes with Peter you know I I already there is striking you know everywhere he’s tough and he’s good and uh yeah he’s been on top a long time and yeah I don’t think he has like these holes but I have to break him it’s interesting because you you don’t have respect for him as a person but you have a lot of respect for him as a fighter for sure you know he’s great fighter it’s uh he is great fighter and he’s a good family guy he has a good beautiful family you know he has two kids and everything like I said he may be good good for his family but uh you know I don’t think he’s a good person in like in real life and that’s all I’m complaining about uh but uh yeah he’s going to fight there thank you thank you hey Brady here brother um question for you you’re normally a pretty humble guy and now I mean you got a little bit of animosity coming into this fight with Peter do you enjoy having a little bit of beef with a fighter coming into the fight does it get you more hyped up uh no I I rather fight somebody I’d rather fight somebody um like regular normal opponent like it was Jose Aldo Maro Mora is called the statement John Dodson or Casey Kenny and I have so much respect to all my opponents and if Jose Aldo beats me I’ll be same happy hours for myself and if you it’s it’s not good for me but it’s good for you God bless you move on and then good luck for your future and it’s a fight you know somebody has to love somebody has to win um I’d rather fight like this this is extra fresh like this because I don’t like that guy I don’t think this guy is good and that’s why I have to make sure I have to beat him you know that’s um that’s my think you know I rather fight normal normal good fighter you know like because I don’t I I don’t have enemy man I don’t I don’t like this drama I don’t like this is this is uh we are professionals yes we are Fighters but uh I mean this is real you know he’s I’m really mad about him because you know whatever I see I don’t like his um how he’s doing you know he’s lying he’s not he’s not he’s not he’s not real men you know in your life and um that’s why it’s everything like this do you think there’s any chance after the fight that you guys can be friends we will never be best friends but yeah like man I’m not I’m not yeah I can be friends with him if he apologize and if he will be like um if he will be sorry all about and he he will come humble and uh yeah like no problem man you know I hey I’m not I’m not looking for enemies and but now this time I don’t like him but after the fight we’ll see you know let’s see how he he’s gonna do and uh and he’s from Russia and uh if he’s against the war and if he wants peace yeah we can be friends but if he supports War I never be his friend thank you I’m Rob thank you for taking the time uh we’ve seen you in big fights pay-per-views come in all that good stuff but now you’re the main event how much more do you like it how enjoyable is it to be on the poster to get all this attention or do you not like it so much you know because you’re just a Fighter’s fighter and like to focus on your performance in the cage I have you liked all this attention actually uh of course it’s good and like this is a dream for every fighter and it feels good you know I this is my 11th fight in UFC and I have eight by doing streak I think I should pretend to know UFC but because of uh judges robbed me or like stupid like decisions but it feels good but um actually like last time when I fought in Salt Lake City it was pay-per-view and I was more busy with the hack media and stuff and uh like I don’t think I have tomorrow any Media or anything so today will be done everything easy um it wasn’t like super crazy like from media and then like now I don’t like so many podcasts ask me to do interview and stuff but you know I I try to keep it smart because I have fight and I cannot give interview everybody whoever’s once you know uh otherwise yeah this is big fighting main event of course it’s big but another day I’m fighting pieterian and I have to win against him I don’t care anything else excellent thank you sir and last for me I’ve seen the beautiful headgear before not not that today but what are you can you explain the outfit what you have going on today yeah this is from my country a traditional head made from Chief and goat it’s uh yeah so it’s very warm in Winter and when our grandparents or people used to live in mountains they used to wear the papaja it’s it’s good in the snow good in the rain and it’s it’s warm and actually our people used to wear like like this outfits because they used to have bullets here they used to have a knife because my country has a beautiful territory and we used to attack always from other neighbors like you know back then it was like a lot of Wars poor religion and like we used to attack you know a lot and our men always was ready for defend the family you know they have knife like this and maybe big and then they have a bullets you know they must be supposed to be bullets it’s not real bullets but so those has to be bullets and so men was always ready so the papa they used to live in mountains they used to have an animals like cows sheeps and and then like I said they was defending uh family animals and countries and you know this is like a represent all my people and represent my culture and I’m proud of be Georgia and yeah I’m yeah so excellent thank you sir and good luck to Saturday defending and representing thank you so much thank you guys I appreciate it