Georgian fighter Merab Dvalishvili has expressed outrage over a Russian flag being displayed inside the octagon following Islam Makhachev's victory at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
Dvalishvili voiced his dissatisfaction after Makhachev's corner brought the banner into the cage following the headline contest, according to a report published by Weird in Life.
Speaking to Weird in Life, Dvalishvili stated that he believed team members would not be permitted to use the flag. He noted that the Russian symbol was banned around the world, questioning why the Ultimate Fighting Championship allowed it inside the ring and describing the situation as madness that he could not understand.
Dvalishvili added that UFC officials do not allow him to display his own national flag of Georgia inside the octagon. He explained that while fighters are permitted to enter the arena with their national flags, holding them inside the octagon after a fight is prohibited.
Controversy Over Russian Flag Display
The dispute arose after Makhachev defeated Irish fighter Ian Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330, which took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following the announcement of the victory, members of Makhachev's corner team brought a Russian flag into the cage to celebrate.
The flag carried into the ring featured personalized text. Inscribed on the Russian national banner were the names of Makhachev, alongside former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and fellow mixed martial artist Usman Nurmagomedov.
Record Breaking Streak for Makhachev
The victory marked the 17th consecutive win in the UFC for the 34-year-old Russian athlete. With this result, Makhachev surpassed the historic streak set by Brazilian mixed martial artist Anderson Silva, who previously held the promotional record with 16 straight wins.
The triumph brought Makhachev's professional mixed martial arts record to 29 career victories and one defeat. Silva, a long-time UFC middleweight champion from Brazil, had established the previous benchmark during his dominant run in the organization.
