Merab Dvalishvili put on a masterclass at UFC 306, overwhelming Sean O’Malley to capture the bantamweight title. However, more than Dvalishvili’s pressure, there was one more event that caught the attention of the fans. At the end of the second round, fans were left scratching their heads. As the two fighters tangled against the cage, Dvalishvili found himself in a dominant position. And then, in what seemed like a taunt, leaned in and appeared to plant a couple of kisses on the back of O’Malley’s head.
Things got even stranger just moments later when Dvalishvili appeared to have mistakenly believed that the round had ended early. He let Sean O’Malley back to his feet mid-exchange, dropping his guard and giving the then-champion a brief window to land a few shots. Fortunately for Dvalishvili, the lapse didn’t cost him the title.
O’Malley’s strikes weren’t enough to steal the round, let alone shift the momentum of the fight. Will we see the same thing in their rematch at UFC 316? The champion appeared for an interview with Michael Bisping, along with Paul Felder, on his YouTube channel. While speaking to the former champion, the 34-year-old made it clear that he only wants a good fight at UFC 316.
He said, “You never say never, but I want a good fight. Like I said, yeah, I hope he’s all right. Yeah, I have been focus more show to good fight, and yeah, I had a little fun kissing him. But I am not planning this time to kiss more, but let’s see. Let’s see how everything will go. Yeah, I will be more focused for sure, good fights.” Dvalishvili is all ready for the challenge, but this time stakes are a lot higher for the champion. In his last fight, O’Malley was not a hundred percent fit.
‘Suga’, reflecting on his previous performance, attributed his loss to a torn labrum sustained ten weeks before the fight. During his appearance on the JRE podcast, O’Malley said, “I tore my labrum ten weeks before the fight… It wasn’t ideal.”
But the former champion has now recovered from the injury, and a fully fit ‘Suga’ is definitely a threat. So is the champion fazed by it or looking forward to the challenge? Well, it seems ‘The Machine’ is ready to test him against one of the best in the division.
Merab Dvalishvili is excited to fight a fully fit Sean O’Malley at UFC 316
“I’m going to be 70 percent better than I was in that first fight.” This is what Sean O’Malley said before his fight at UFC 316. In their last clash, Merab Dvalishvili dominated the 30-year-old by using his exceptional grappling skills. While the former champion does have a strong ground game, the injury to his hip restricted a lot of his movements.
However, this time things are a bit different. O’Malley has not only recovered but has also added new weapons to his arsenal. But rather than being fazed, ‘The Machine’ is excited to face this version of O’ Malley. During a sit-down with ESPN MMA, Dvalishvili was asked by UFC veteran Anthony Smith to share his thoughts on O’Malley’s evolution. The question prompted a measured response from the Georgian.
He said, ” Yeah, like I’m excited for this rematch. Just for the fight, you know? I want to try to finish him. I want to try striking, you know? I want to try different things. And I know Sean will change his plan. Like he’s saying also, he’s going to be 70% better version, and I want to see this.”
‘The Machine’, however, expects a very different fight this time around. For Sean O’Malley, the loss wasn’t just a setback. It came at the very edge of his rise to mainstream superstardom. On top of that, the nature of the loss added a layer of public humiliation that’s hard to shake. ‘Suga’ also faced a lot of criticism from many experts for turning up at the event with an injury. Determined not to repeat history, O’Malley is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation.
But the big question is, can he come out on top against the champion? Or will he once again succumb in front of Merab Dvalishvili’s wrestling prowess? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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