Ray Longo defends Merab Dvalishvili from Dana White’s criticism

Ray Longo disagrees with Dana White’s remarks towards Merab Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in the UFC 306 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) main event at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Just weeks prior to his fight with O’Malley, Dvalishvili suffered a face laceration, which he posted on social media, prompting White to call him “next-level stupid.” Not only did he reveal that he had cut himself, but he proceeded to remove the stitches himself with bush shears.

Longo took issue with White branding Dvalishvili as stupid.

“I’m not the social media guy, so I don’t get it,” Longo told Kevin Iole. “But you have to expect this sh*t with these kids today. They film everything. They film tying their shoelaces. He’s been a camera guy since the second I met him. He’s crazy with the camera. But look, if it was a knee injury, I’d say that would be a problem. Now you’re going to target something. He’s going to get cut in the fight. It is what it is. He’s going to get punched in the face.

“A cut’s a cut, and if it opens up, I don’t think it’ll have an impact on the fight. … One thing Dana was really wrong on, he called him a dummy. He’s far from a dummy. He’s very intelligent. He’s a humble guy. He’s got humble beginnings. He’s fighting for his country. There’s certain guys that that type of sh*t means a lot. He’s one of them. (O’Malley’s) going to have to beat this kid dead, that I guarantee you.”

During Wednesday’s media day, O’Malley took the opportunity to pile on Dvalishvili after White’s remarks. He was asked if he thinks it’s a marketing ploy by Dvalishvili or a mistake on his part.

“A little bit of both – mostly stupidity,” O’Malley said. “I mean, the dude jumped – he didn’t know what ice was – he jumped, he didn’t know if water got cold, that cold, that it turns into ice. He jumped in ice onto his head. So, I mean, that’s the person we’re talking about.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.