Since shaking up the bantamweight division earlier in August at UFC’s Abu Dhabi event, Dagestani sensation Umar Nurmagomedov has kept his eyes firmly on the bantamweight crown, regardless of who holds it. From day one, Nurmagomedov has been clear about his intentions. However, the newly crowned bantamweight king, Merab Dvalishvili, has continually tried to avoid a clash with undefeated Nurmagomedov.

But just like Thanos in pursuit of the Infinity Stones, Umar Nurmagomedov remains relentless in his quest for the title. Now, it seems his wish is about to be fulfilled, according to an update from Team Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz.

Is Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov a done deal?

The famous quote from Thanos, “No matter how far you run from it, destiny still arrives,” seems to have become a true nightmare for Merab Dvalishvili, who was hoping to avoid putting his bantamweight title in jeopardy until at least 2025. However, relentless Umar Nurmagomedov appears to have thrown cold water on Dvalishvili’s plans. According to a statement shared by Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, on X, he claimed, “Umar Nurmagomedov is fighting for the UFC Bantamweight championship next—done deal.”

Despite Abdelaziz’s claim, it remains unclear exactly when Nurmagomedov vs. Dvalishvili will happen, whether within the remaining three months of this year or sometime next year. Yesterday, Merab Dvalishvili offered himself a rematch against Sean O’Malley at the upcoming UFC event at Madison Square Garden. However, O’Malley later turned down the offer due to an ongoing injury and instead redirected it toward Umar Nurmagomedov, which Nurmagomedov was not pleased to hear.

During this verbal exchange, Merab Dvalishvili put the final nail in the coffin of the ongoing debate by taking to social media, where he disclosed the timeline for fans about when they might expect to see the thrilling matchup between Umar Nurmagomedov and himself. To learn more, scroll through the article.

When exactly does Merab Dvalishvili want to fight Umar Nurmagomedov?

Since Merab Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight crown, he’s made one thing clear—he’s not buying into the hype around Umar Nurmagomedov. Despite Umar’s dominant rise through the bantamweight ranks, dismantling every opponent the matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard put in his path, Dvalishvili hasn’t been convinced. Utilizing his elite wrestling, Umar Nurmagomedov has carved out a reputation as a force in the division. Just last month, he put on a clinic against Cory Sandhagen, catapulting himself eight spots in the rankings—a jump that shook the entire organization and sent shockwaves through the MMA community. With such a meteoric rise, it’s no wonder Merab is feeling the heat, and he’s pushing himself to prove he’s the rightful champ.

Dvalishvili’s resolve came into focus once again in a recent social media post. Merab hinted at future fights, sharing that Sean O’Malley had directly messaged him earlier in the week, itching for a rematch. “O’Malley DM’d me this past Tuesday—push for the rematch. He is so sure he won the fight that I want to show him I will beat him again and again,” Merab wrote. He went on to say, “I was going to give him a quick turnaround in NY. I’m not ducking Umar—after the rematch, I will fight him or anyone else the UFC puts in front of me.”

It’s the kind of talk that fuels the fire in the bantamweight division. With Merab’s eyes set on defending his belt against O’Malley, the question remains: what about Umar Nurmagomedov? The undefeated phenom, with his ruthless skill set and undeniable momentum, feels like the fight everyone wants to see. But is Merab ready to step into the Octagon with one of the most dangerous threats the division has ever seen? Drop your opinions below—this is one debate every fight fan wants in on.