SALT LAKE CITY – UFC bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili was preparing to face all of the top names in the division, except one. Saturday at Vivint Arena, Dvalishvili (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will step into the cage to face former UFC and WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. The bantamweight bout sits in the middle of the UFC 278 main card, which airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ABC and ESPN+. Even though he is a top 10 fighter in the bantamweight division, seeing Aldo (31-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC) as the opponent listed on his bout agreement was a surprise for Dvalishvili. “When UFC call me and give me this fight, I was shocked because I was ready for everyone, but not for Jose Aldo,” Dvalishvili told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 278 media day.
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Merab Dvalishvili explains why he was ‘shocked’ by UFC 278 matchup vs. Jose Aldo – MMA Junkie