Sean O’Malley walked into UFC 306 as one of the biggest stars in the promotion, carrying an aura of confidence that had made him a fan favorite. His flashy striking, precise footwork, and ability to evade pressure wrestlers had earned him a reputation as one of the most dangerous bantamweights in the world. But on this night, Merab Dvalishvili shattered that perception in brutal fashion. From the opening bell, ‘The Machine’ lived up to his name. Dvalishvili’s relentless pace, suffocating wrestling, and non-stop pressure gave O’Malley no room to breathe.
However, it was later revealed that O’Malley was suffering from a hip injury which hindered his performance. The former champion is on his road to recovery and is expected to return to action soon. But the big question is who will he be fighting next on his return? UFC CEO Dana White is excited to see a rematch between the two fighters as he believes it’s what the fans also want to see. O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch is also excited about the whole but feels the outcome will be a bit different this time round. He recently took to his YouTube channel to point out the mistakes they made in their previous clash which affected the outcome.
He said, “It’s like ok if Merab fights anybody else he’s gonna f——- hump him on the fence and he’s gonna win. Sugar, everyone knows Sean wasn’t f—— on that night. And partly it’s my fault, partly it’s a little bit of the game plan that I had for him.” Welch is confident that a fully fit O’Malley can definitely outsmart the champion. However, he also pointed out that fighting in the Sphere also hampered the performance of ‘Suga’. Welch further added, “I mean, the Sphere was a little weird, the lighting was weird, I mean.” The champion recently defended his title at UFC 311 against Umar Nurmagomedov.
‘The Machine’ successfully defended his title for the first time and impressed everyone with his performance. Before the fight, the Georgian fighter made it clear that he would definitely like to face O’Malley in a rematch once he returns to full fitness. Although Welch and a major portion of UFC fanbase would line up to witness this rematch, but why should Dana White and UFC be sold on this prospect? What’s in it for them?
Why O’Malley vs Dvalishvili rematch is the correct choice for the next fight?
UFC 306, also known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, was a testament to Sean O’Malley’s star power and his ability to draw an electrifying crowd. While the UFC’s historic debut at The Sphere certainly played a role in the event’s success, O’Malley’s presence was a key factor in setting new records. The event generated an astonishing $22 million in gate revenue, surpassing Conor McGregor’s landmark performance at Madison Square Garden and became the highest grossing event ever. Sponsorship deals and merchandise sales for UFC 306 also shattered previous records. The demand for On Location VIP packages also soared to unprecedented levels, showing exactly what ‘Suga’ is capable of achieving.
The most impressive statistic was that 89% of ticket buyers came from outside Nevada, making UFC 306 one of the most heavily attended events by out-of-town fans in the promotion’s history. While one factor for such massive turnout was the venue of the event. However, the next big factor was the former champion Sean O’Malley. The fight world can’t get enough of ‘Suga’ in action. He’s not just a skilled fighter—but a true entertainer. It feels like there’s some unfinished business between O’Malley and Dvalishvili, further making the case for White to set up a rematch between the two fighters.
Do you think Sean O’Malley deserves a rematch against Merab Dvalishvili next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post “The Sphere Was a Little Weird” – Team Sean O’Malley Admits ‘Fault’ in Loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
