Merab Dvalishvili has shared graphic footage of the pre-UFC 311 injury he hid from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). The UFC bantamweight champion revealed that he feared being pulled from competition due to severe leg gashes sustained during a collision with stairs ahead of his title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov.
The injuries, which required 27 stitches, were still visible when Dvalishvili competed on Saturday. To avoid detection, he told the CSAC representative that his shin was injured and lifted his left leg to show him his “shin,” successfully concealing the cuts. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the CSAC’s medical checks.
Dvalishvili credits his injury with providing motivation for a dominant performance against Nurmagomedov, ultimately winning via unanimous decision. He is now on a 12-fight winning streak and looks poised to become a dominant champion at 135 pounds.
Source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/01/ufc-merab-dvalishvili-graphic-footage-leg-injury