Ray Longo defends Merab Dvalishvili against criticism from Dana White: “He is anything but a fool”

Ray Longo disagrees with Dana White's comments about Merab Dvalishvili.

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

Just weeks before his fight with O'Malley, Dvalishvili suffered a cut on his face, which he posted on social media, prompting White to call him the “dumbest guy of all.” Not only did he reveal that he had cut himself, but he also took out the stitches himself with garden shears.

Longo objected to White branding Dvalishvili as stupid.

“I'm not a social media guy, so I don't understand it,” Longo told Kevin Iole. “But you have to expect that kind of shit with kids today. They film everything. They film them tying their shoelaces. He's been a cameraman since the second I met him. He's crazy about 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 is a cut, and if it opens up, I don't think it's going to affect the fight. … Dana was really wrong about one thing, he called him a fool. He's anything but a fool. He's very intelligent. He's a humble guy. He comes from humble beginnings. He's fighting for his country. There are certain guys that care a lot about that. He's one of them. (O'Malley) is going to have to beat that kid to death, I guarantee you that.”

During media day on Wednesday, O'Malley took the opportunity to attack Dvalishvili following White's comments. He was asked if he thought it was a marketing ploy by Dvalishvili or a mistake on his part.

“A little bit of both — stupidity, mostly,” O'Malley said. “I mean, the guy jumped — he didn't know what ice was — he jumped, he didn't know that when water gets that cold, it turns to ice. He jumped into the ice on his head. So, I mean, that's the person we're talking about.”

Related

Merab Dvalishvili promises to “humble” Sean O'Malley and take his belt at UFC 306

Trainer Ray Longo: Merab Dvalishvili will have to “take some hits” to beat Sean O'Malley at UFC 306

Sean O'Malley examines Merab Dvalishvili's cut at UFC 306, “whether it's healed or not”

Merab Dvalishvili ignores Dana White's criticism of the release of cut videos before UFC 306: “I have no regrets”

Dana White reacts to Merab Dvalishvili pulling his own stitches: “I think he's just messing with me now”

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

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ray Longo defends Merab Dvalishvili against Dana White criticism: “He is anything but a fool”