Merab Dvalishvili upset over his UFC 278 performance against Jose Aldo: ‘I wanted a more exciting fight’
Merab Dvalishvili isn’t too thrilled with his UFC 278 win over Jose Aldo.
Dvalishvili earned a decision win in a rather lackluster fight that even UFC president Dana White was not happy about. Although the Georgian got the win, which extended his win streak to eight, he admits he was disappointed with his performance as he did want a more exciting fight.
“Yes and no, (I’m satisfied). Of course, I wanted a more exciting fight and I wanted to take him down,” Dvalishvili said after UFC 278. “But he was good, and it was hard to time him and take him down. Against the cage, he was good. He was defending my takedown good. Also, I didn’t want to spend too much energy because I wanted to be ready for a strike. But this is the fight game. I kept it against the wall, and I was winning the fight comfortable. It’s his job to move and do something because I was winning the fight.”
Although Merab Dvalishvili isn’t too pleased with his UFC 278 win over Jose Aldo, he still got the job done and will now be a top-five and possibly a top-three bantamweight. With that, he’s closing in on a title shot, but he has made it known he won’t fight his close friend in Aljamain Sterling who is the champ.
However, even though Dvalishvili is closing in on a title shot, the Georgian knows there are a ton of fights for him that doesn’t involve him and Sterling.
“I believe there are so many fights left for me,” Dvalishvili said. “There are so many. Our division is the most exciting. There are so many young guys, former champions. Henry Cejudo is coming back. Actually, Aljo has to beat them – the former champions. Monday, I’ll be back in the gym helping Aljo. He helped me in this training camp in the gym, weight cut, everything. We have a big fight. Aljo is fighting for the title against a cheater, and we have to beat T.J. Dillashaw together.”
