The mixed martial arts community is buzzing with reactions after Merab Dvalishvili posted on social media about a cut above his eye. This injury happened while he was training for his upcoming fight against Sean O’Malley at UFC 306. However, UFC President Dana White didn’t take kindly to Dvalishvili’s update and expressed his frustration during a press conference for his Contender Series.
Despite White’s criticism, Dvalishvili has received support from his fellow fighters. One of his strongest defenders is his teammate and former UFC champion, Aljamain Sterling, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to stand up for the bantamweight title challenger.
Aljamain Sterling Defends Merab Dvalishvili Against Dana White
On August 21st, during the press conference, a reporter asked Dana White if he was aware of Dvalishvili’s injury. White responded quickly, stating that everyone knew about it. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to criticize fighters who share their injuries online, saying, “Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable… It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted.” White was clearly frustrated that Dvalishvili had made his injury public, as he believes fighters should keep such details to themselves until after the fight.
The reporter pointed out that Dvalishvili’s post might have given his opponent, Sean O’Malley, a clear target for their fight. White agreed, calling it a “stupid” move and adding, “It is next-level stupid! Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.” White’s anger seemed to stem from a belief that fighters should be more careful about what they share, especially when it could potentially give their opponents an advantage.
However, Aljamain Sterling saw things differently. He felt that Dana White overreacted to Dvalishvili’s post. Sterling tweeted, “Everyone is making a much bigger deal over ‘the little cut,’ even the boss. Merab shares his stories of training camp, the good, the bad, the ugly, and people LOVE him for it. There’s nothing ‘stupid’ about it, period. He’s training, and will show up Sept 14, like he always does. Is this about betting lines?? Is it about a fight cancelation?? Respectfully, this reaction was a bit over the top IMHO.”
Sterling’s defense highlights the growing tension between how fighters manage their public personas and the expectations of the UFC leadership. While White views the situation as a potential strategic mistake, Sterling sees it as part of Dvalishvili’s honest and open connection with his fans.
**Sean O’Malley and ‘The Machine’ Exchange Warnings**
As soon as Dvalishvili’s injury became public, Sean O’Malley, the reigning bantamweight champion, didn’t waste any time responding. He posted on X, saying, “This little f___kin rat better not pull out I swear to god.” Clearly, O’Malley was concerned that Dvalishvili might use the injury as an excuse to back out of their scheduled fight.
But Dvalishvili was quick to assure everyone that he had no plans of withdrawing. He stated that the cut was minor and would heal in a couple of weeks. In his social media post, he confidently claimed that he was getting stronger every day and that the injury would not stop him from competing at UFC Noche. Dvalishvili even promised that he would do everything in his power to win the UFC bantamweight championship belt at UFC 306.
Dana White’s concern isn’t entirely without reason. Small injuries can sometimes have big consequences in the world of combat sports. Athletic commissions have the authority to pull a fighter from a match if they believe the fighter is compromised. While it seems unlikely that Dvalishvili’s cut will lead to such drastic action, it does give O’Malley a clear target to exploit during their fight. If O’Malley manages to reopen the cut during the match, it could lead to a doctor stoppage, which would be a disappointing end to a highly anticipated fight.
The UFC has seen fights end due to cuts before, most notably the UFC 244 BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, which ended when doctors stopped the fight due to a cut above Diaz’s eye. White likely doesn’t want a repeat of that situation in the UFC 306 main event.
The memory of last year’s UFC 294 incident may also be influencing White’s reaction. Just days before the event, Charles Oliveira suffered a significant cut that forced him to pull out of his rematch with Islam Makhachev. The way Oliveira’s team handled that injury caused frustration for White, and it’s possible that he sees Dvalishvili’s situation as a potential repeat of that scenario.
In the end, the situation has sparked a debate within the MMA community. Fans and fighters alike are divided on whether Dvalishvili’s decision to post about his injury was wise or foolish. Some, like Sterling, believe that Dvalishvili was simply being open and honest with his supporters. Others, like White, feel that such openness could lead to unnecessary risks.
What do you think about Dvalishvili’s injury and the controversy surrounding it? Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling that Dana White’s reaction was over the top? Or do you side with White, believing that fighters should be more cautious about what they share? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
“Aljamain Sterling Blasts Dana White: Furious at Shocking Favoritism Towards Merab Dvalishvili—What Triggered the Ex-UFC Champ?”
