With a gain former champion Petr Yan on Saturday at UFC Vegas 71, Merab Dvalishvili has actually inched his method closer to the top. Sitting on that area, obviously, is Aljamain Sterling, a close friend and training companion of Merab's over at Serra-Longo in Long Island.

Throughout his Octagon interview with Daniel Cormier, Merab stated his willingness to fight for the 135-pound title, yet only when "Funkmaster" moves up in weight.

" He's the actual champ," Merab stated of Sterling, who remained in his edge that evening. "However whenever he make a decision to rise a weight class, and then deal with the following opposition, whoever will certainly exist.

" And then after, I will certainly deal with (for) title. Of course, I wish to be champion!"

UFC president Dana White was inquired about this prospective issue throughout the post-fight scrum, as well as he had this to state.

" I do not remember who the hell I was talking to recently regarding this, as well as I was, like,' We do not have to manage that bullshit any longer," he informed reporters. "Back in the early days, the camps were so tiny, you really did not have a great deal of different alternatives. So we had a lot of these guys claiming, 'Oh, he's my friend, he's my friend ...'.

" You can still be good friends as well as desire what your pal has. It would certainly be a truly negative concept for Merab to decrease that course.".

White states the choice is currently for Merab to make.

" Does Merab desire a shot at the title? Or would certainly Merab rather have people under him leap over him, and him need to handle all these various goons when he's not also obtaining a title shot when he's next in line for it.

" That's a personal decision he needs to make. If that's what he intends to do, I can tell you just how that story finishes. It's not a good ending to that tale. However, he's a big child, he can figure that out on his very own.".

After the win over Yan, Merab is currently on a nine-fight win touch with a record of 16-4.