{"id":31440,"date":"2022-06-01T02:20:21","date_gmt":"2022-06-01T02:20:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/aljamain-sterling-says-hell-probably-have-to-move-up-a-division-with-merab-dvalishvilis-next-win-2\/"},"modified":"2022-06-01T02:20:21","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T02:20:21","slug":"aljamain-sterling-says-hell-probably-have-to-move-up-a-division-with-merab-dvalishvilis-next-win-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/aljamain-sterling-says-hell-probably-have-to-move-up-a-division-with-merab-dvalishvilis-next-win-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Aljamain Sterling says he’ll ‘probably have to move up’ a division with Merab Dvalishvili’s next win"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling wants to give Merab Dvalishvili a shot at the belt. <\/p>\n

Asked on Twitter about a potential matchup with his longtime teammate, Sterling indicated he would rather move up in weight than force a fight. <\/p>\n

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After Merab’s next win, I will probably have to move up, to allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia to win a world title. We will figure it out. https:\/\/t.co\/buDwgCSObs<\/p>\n

– Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 31, 2022<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cAfter Merab’s next win, I will probably have to move up, to allow him his chance that he earned, to make history for Georgia to win a world title,\u201d Sterling wrote. “We will figure it out.”<\/p>\n

Sterling and Dvalishvili, respectively No. 1 and No. 7 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings at 135 pounds, are unbooked for their next octagon outings. Bantamweight champ Sterling may face ex-champ TJ Dillashaw, though he has also signaled an openness to face other contenders such as ex-featherweight champ Jose Aldo. He is currently resting after defending the belt in a title rematch against Petr Yan at UFC 273.<\/p>\n

Sterling, 32, has fought as high as 140 pounds in the octagon for a catchweight bout with ex-champ Renan Barao, but has only fought at featherweight on the regional circuit before his UFC career. <\/p>\n

After a pair of stumbles in his first two outings, Dvalishvili has torn through the competition at 135 pounds, winning seven straight including a stoppage of one-time title challenger Marlon Moraes in his most recent outing. <\/p>\n

Sterling and Dvalishvili are close training partners and friends at Serra-Longo Fight Team. <\/p>\n

Sterling recently drew headlines for his rebuttal of Michael Chandler’s recent comments about fighter pay. <\/p>\n