UFC 308: Merab Dvalishvili confirms Mark Zuckerberg’s attendance at blockbuster Noche UFC at The Sphere
He’s on a 10-fight winning streak, is fighting for the bantamweight title, and Merab Dvalishvili has confirmed a big name presence will be cageside this weekend.
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Facebook CEO and tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg will be in attendance at UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
That’s according to main event fighter, bantamweight world title challenger – and Zuckerberg’s mate – Merab Dvalishvili.
The Georgian Dvalishvili is undefeated in 10 fights, including wins over Henry Cejudo, Jose Aldo and Petr Yan, and takes on 135-pound superstar Sean O’Malley in the blockbuster main event.
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It was during his impressive win over Cejudo at UFC 298 in Anaheim in February, that Dvalishvili’s friendship with Zuck became known.
The tech pioneer was actually in attendance as a guest of Alex Volkanovski, who he walked to the Octagon later in the evening, but it was a move from Merab that Zuckerberg really loved.
Midway through the second round, Dvalishvili locked in a guillotine choke on Cejudo, spied Zuckerberg watching on, and began chatting to the Facebook founder.
Later, he hoisted Cejudo over his shoulder and walked over to where Zuckerberg was sitting.
“We’d been friends on social media before and had always had chats about MMA and Jiu Jitsu,” Dvalishvili told this masthead. “Then a few days before the fight he text me to say he was going to be at my fight.
“That was pretty cool.
“Once I stepped in the cage, I saw him and made eye contact with him. Then, when I picked Henry up, I was looking for where Zuckerberg was, and I brought Henry to him and threw him down in front of him.
“It was fun – too much fun. It was like it wasn’t even a fight.”
Dvalishvili says Zuckerberg will be back for more this weekend, but knows the Facebook guru is also close with O’Malley.
“I believe he will be there, but he knows O’Malley too, so I don’t know who he’s supporting,” he said. “But I think he’ll be there.”
There’s absolutely no love lost between Dvalishvili and O’Malley.
They’ve been going back and forth, sniping at each other on social media for months, but their rivalry started well over a year ago with a red leather jacket.
Moments after Dvalishvili’s close mate Aljamain Sterling defended the bantamweight title against Cejudo at UFC 288 in May last year, O’Malley confronted ‘Aljo’ in the cage.
Dvalishvili also entered the cage to support Sterling, and O’Malley took off the bright red imitation Michael Jackson Thriller jacket he was wearing.
Somehow the jacket made its way to Merab, who put it on, climbed the Octagon and taunted ‘Suga’ Sean.
O’Malley has since said he thought Dvalishvili “was a doorman who you give your jacket to” but ‘The Machine’ clapped back this week.
“How you think I’m a doorman? I’m wearing UFC clothes, I have a broken nose and I’m fighting you next!” he said. “You’re ducking me.
“The truth is, he didn’t even look at me, he was just acting stupid. That’s why I took the jacket and made fun of him.”
O’Malley is undoubtedly one of the UFC’s biggest stars, but Dvalishvili says the American has plenty of haters.
“He became champion and got a lot of support, but I’m actually surprised how many people don’t like him,” he said. “I don’t know what he’s done, but sometimes MMA fans are very casual, so if you win, everyone’s with you.
“If you lose, they’re with your opponent.”
Dvalishvili plans on turning any doubters into fans with a comprehensive win over O’Malley this weekend.
“I just wanna beat the shit out of him,” he laughed. “I could win by leg lock, or armbar. Or maybe a choke or a KO.
“I just want to kick his ass and celebrate with the world.
“I took his jacket, but he can have that back. I’ll take his belt instead.”
Originally published as UFC 308: Merab Dvalishvili confirms Mark Zuckerberg’s attendance at blockbuster Noche UFC at The Sphere
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