Merab
Dvalishvili has clarified that he has no bad blood with
Islam
Makhachev despite what the latter believes.

The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight titleholder
addressed recent comments from Makhachev after the welterweight
champ appeared to accuse Dvalishvili of being unhappy with his
success after he defended his title against Ian Garry at
UFC
330.

Merab Dvalishvili explains what really upset him after Islam
Makhachev’s UFC 330 win

Dvalishvili explained on social media that his frustration with
Makhachev’s victory at UFC 330 was directed at the latter’s team
bringing a Russian flag into the Octagon, rather than at the
champion himself.

“I like Islam Makhachev,†Dvalishvili wrote on X. “I think he's a
great and humble champion. I respect all the hard work he has put
into his career, I have nothing but respect for him. But when I saw
his team bring the Russian flag into the Octagon, I was upset. And
the reason I reacted that way is because, first during all five of
my UFC title fights, I was never allowed to bring my Georgian or
American flag into the cage.â€

Dvalishvili further clarified that his problem is with Russian
politics, rather than people from the country.

“Second reason for me, this is very personal because of what
Russian politics and the Russian government have done to my
country,†Dvalishvili added. “Russia occupies around 20% of
Georgia, and there has been a history of war, occupation, and
suffering against my Georgian people. Russia has also been
responsible for terrible violence in Chechnya, and they are still
killing people in Ukraine today. I also want to make one thing very
clear: I don't hate Russian people. I hate Russian politics and the
Russian government. My problem is with the government and its
actions, not with ordinary Russian people.â€

Dvalishvili also accused Russian media of portraying his comments
unfairly.

“The Russian media is always asking me provocative questions, but
they will never translate this video honestly or show what I'm
actually saying, because it doesn't fit the narrative they want to
create,†he concluded. “There is no freedom of speech and if you
protest anything in Russia you go to jail. This is facts.â€

This comes amid growing tension between Dvalishvili and the
Dagestani team, with Umar
Nurmagomedov claiming that their rivalry is personal.

I like Islam
Makhachev. I think he's a great and humble champion. I respect
all the hard work he has put into his career, I have nothing but
respect for him.
But when I saw his team bring the Russian flag into the Octagon, I
was upset. And the reason I reacted that way is… pic.twitter.com/sdUd8fsr97

— Merab “The Machine†Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil)
August 26, 2026