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Dana White and the UFC have invested a lot of money in their Sphere event on Mexican Independence Day next month, and it would be bad for them if they had to change anything about the event.
Less than a month before the event, main event fighter Merab Dvalishvili revealed that he had a cut under his eye, which worried fans about his availability next month.
Uh oh.
Merab Dvalishvili just shared a video where he has a pretty significant cut over his left eye and it’s getting stitched up.
He’s scheduled to main event Noche UFC against Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title at The Sphere on September 14. pic.twitter.com/orR2jYC8AI
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) August 20, 2024
Merab insists that he will not pull out of the Sphere card because of the cut.
Merab Dvalishvili gives an update on his cut and says he will NOT be pulling out of his fight with Sean O'Malley
(via. IG / @MerabDvalishvil) #UFC #MMA #NocheUFC https://t.co/ThSt6pTzPd pic.twitter.com/lsw3CZbbjg
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 21, 2024
When asked about would happen if Merab had to pull out, White said that it would be “devastating” due to all the video production being done at the Sphere.
“The cost of doing this production if we have to change everything is f–cking devastating”
Dana White says that there is no replacement for O'Malley vs Dvalishvili🚫, and the cost of changing anything [ if a fighter pulls out ] will be devastating.
via: @ufc / #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/336Apfalv4
— MMA.PROS.PICK (@MMAPROSPICK) August 21, 2024
White has said that it will cost upwards to $20 million to put the event on in The Sphere.