SUMMARY
- Nina Daniele got her first modeling contract in 2017 and later tried out for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition magazine.
- In a recent social media post, Daniele shared a heartwarming message of appreciation for Merab Dvalishvili.
UFC interviewer Nina Marie Daniele has turned out to be a social media sensation in quite a short amount of time. Her content segments and personality have helped her get in close with the MMA community as well as the UFC fighters. Nina’s candid and up-close interviews with UFC stars such as Sean Strickland, Tom Aspinall, and Dricus Du Plessis have helped grow her following as well as reach among the fans.
Nina Daniele got her first modeling contract in 2017 and later tried out for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition magazine. The former model was also awarded the coveted ‘Playmate of the Year’ title by Playboy. She then turned her attention to MMA and built her network and image even before signing with the biggest promotion in combat sports, the UFC.
Merab Dvalishvili appreciation post! He was one of the first UFC fighters who gave me the opportunity to “interview” him. Before I got a UFC contract I used to commute from Huntington Beach to Las Vegas every weekend to watch Apex fights in hopes of interviewing fighters or… pic.twitter.com/0v1lGBy8UI
— Nina-Marie Daniele (@ninamdrama) February 12, 2024
In a recent social media post, Nina Daniele shared a heartwarming appreciation message to the No. 2 ranked bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili. She said, “You are such a great friend to me; you are one of the best humans I know. You are good inside and out; you are loyal, respectful; you are such an asset to the UFC, to the community. I f**king love you, dude. I am so excited for your journey. I have seen every fights since the day I have known you, and I am so proud of you”.
She went on to thank the Georgian professional mixed martial artist for being one of the first UFC fighters who allowed me to interview him. This was even before the model was signed with the organization.
Nina Daniele recalls her first interview with Merab Dvalishvili before getting signed by the UFC
The UFC interviewer and social media influencer also shared her struggles during her early days while transitioning to her new career. She stated how she had to commute from Huntington Beach to Las Vegas every weekend to watch Apex fights in hopes of interviewing fighters or celebrities. This showed her dedication and love for sport, which is oftentimes even appreciated by UFC president Dana White.
In her first interview with Merab, the UFC fighter shared, “It was snow everywhere, and then the lake was freezing. I thought it was just snow, and I jump to the freezing water, and I break my head. I had 70 stitches in my head last winter.”
This was the story of how he got 70 stitches while jumping into a frozen lake. It terrified the interviewer and made for a hilarious conversation for the fans. They also talked about his favorite movie and craziest encounters during childhood. Daniele also wished him the best of luck for his upcoming fight against former UFC double champion Henry Cjeudo at UFC 298.
Merab Dvalishvili shares a sparring and wrestling session with Nina Daniele
Ahead of his UFC 298 showdown, Merab Dvalishvili was seen being involved in playful sparring with friend and interviewer Nina. The two were seen exchanging wrestling moves and working around the mat. The UFC fighter was able to teach the former model a few of his takedown moves, which the latter successfully implemented.
Sneako wasn’t the only influencer who got beat up by a UFC fighter this weekend. Merab Dvalishvili showed no mercy on me either LOL @MerabDvalishvil pic.twitter.com/RPQLnNeya9
— Nina-Marie Daniele (@ninamdrama) February 11, 2024
Nina is known for pushing the standards for her interviews and being more involved with the fighters, including the recent sparring session with former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. These are just some examples of how the UFC interviewer has put herself on the spot to entertain the MMA community. She also thanked Merab for being a great friend and always believing in her throughout her career.