Merab Dvalishvili has an uncanny potential to interrupt his opponent’s will and that normally occurs along with his relentless strain and continuous conditioning however his head coach doesn’t consider that’s what led to Sean O’Malley’s downfall at UFC 316.
After beating O’Malley by choice of their first encounter this previous September, the UFC’s reigning bantamweight champion by some means managed to high himself within the rematch with a formidable third-round end after snatching a nasty choke that ended the combat. As soon as once more, Dvalishvili’s wrestling and grappling took middle stage however John Wooden believes he noticed O’Malley’s demeanor change even earlier within the combat after they had been buying and selling photographs on the ft.
“I do consider that knockout was an choice,” Wooden informed MMA Combating. “I don’t know if everyone observed however he was touching him fairly good and rocked him a few occasions. The aim once more is end nonetheless we are able to end. Win the combat. The primary aim is to win the combat. However the issues that Merab does and the issues that Merab brings to the desk and I caught a number of shit the opposite day for saying I actually consider we may have completed the final three fights. No drawback.
“There are moments in all these fights the place the individual, the fighter broke they usually didn’t wish to be there anymore. They do issues, whether or not it’s subconsciously or they’re seeing it, the place they don’t wish to be there they usually give choices and alternatives to get out of there.”
So when precisely did O’Malley break within the rematch?
Wooden says there have been a few moments that stood out to him however the true spotlight was when Dvalishvili acquired by O’Malley’s takedown protection, lifted him into the air and introduced him crashing again down once more within the middle of the cage.
O’Malley mentioned after the primary combat ended {that a} hip damage prevented him from actually coaching his grappling earlier than going through Dvalishvili however he had nothing holding him again this time. Whereas Wooden provides O’Malley credit score for displaying enhancements, he is aware of that slam takedown from Dvalishvili needed to take a toll on him within the combat.
“I feel that was the beginning of it,” Wooden mentioned in regards to the takedown resulting in O’Malley’s demise. “I feel even in spherical one, there was some success the place I informed Merab all camp, there’s going to be a second actual fast when he will get on the market the place he goes ‘oh shit, this feels very oddly comparable however worse.’ I feel that occurred after the primary spherical.
“However sure, when one other man picks you up like a toddler and carries you and throws you down and does no matter and it simply looks like nothing you’re doing is working, there’s simply no manner not really feel a sure manner. Merab’s simply acquired Sean’s quantity. That occurs typically in fights and types.”
Wooden acknowledged quite a few occasions main as much as the rematch that he anticipated Dvalishvili to search for the end so he wasn’t in the least stunned that the Georgian fighter snatched that choke within the third spherical to place O’Malley away.
As spectacular as that was, Wooden guarantees that Dvalishvili is simply getting began in terms of displaying off his potential to place opponents away and he expects O’Malley was simply the primary of many to expertise that.
“Mark my phrases, this gained’t be the primary and solely submission,” Wooden mentioned. “There will probably be knockouts. There will probably be TKO’s. He’s nonetheless getting higher and I feel that Sean did higher however Sean defended takedowns within the first one. Sean did issues later within the rounds within the first combat and as a coach it’s my job to determine what in a rematch, what they suppose they’re going to do higher and we’ve to vary and regulate and alter these methods and alter these timings and it labored out completely.
“Merab is particular. Individuals at the moment are beginning to notice that. His timing, his imaginative and prescient, the way in which he listens and learns, he’s particular. So he can adapt to anybody at any cut-off date. He figures it out. He downloads and computes and he does it on the go. He does it in a chaotic, hectic method.”
With two wins over O’Malley and the second combat ending in a end, Dvalishvili now strikes ahead along with his profession as he begins in search of out new challenges.
Fighters like Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista are most likely close to the highest of the listing of potential contenders who’ve by no means fought the champion beforehand however Dvalishvili clearly isn’t against rematches if that’s what the UFC desires from him.
Given the lay of the land at bantamweight, Wooden expects Dvalishvili to give attention to new goals whereas placing O’Malley in his rearview mirror however he doesn’t low cost the likelihood that the UFC would put that combat collectively once more sooner or later.
“Within the realm of actuality, I’d say we’re not going to see it once more,” Wooden mentioned about Dvalishvili going through O’Malley for a 3rd time. “Within the realm of the UFC and them deciding a win modifications every part. If O’Malley goes on the market and starches the subsequent man, everyone’s going to leap again on the bandwagon … and he’ll come they usually may say ‘once I fought Merab the second time … I’m not saying they’ve mentioned this however ‘I had an injured foot’ or [whatever] to possibly get again. One or two extra knockouts, you understand how issues work.
“If the UFC sees that they will get behind it and their advertising and marketing machine they usually could make {dollars} and cents out of it, then they’ll do it. You aren’t within the enterprise of rankings of the most effective man ought to at all times combat the subsequent finest man and the subsequent finest man ought to combat the champion. That’s not the way in which it goes. So I do see a possible of him being again within the combine after a while.”
What would O’Malley need to do with a purpose to justify a 3rd combat towards Dvalishvili?
His coach believes that’s an enormous climb again up the bantamweight ladder however he doesn’t put it previous O’Malley — Wooden simply is aware of the possibilities of that combat taking place once more any time quickly could be very unlikely.
“I don’t suppose Sean goes to be the subsequent finest man for some time,” Wooden mentioned. “I feel there’s different guys. He must undergo a assassin’s row and beat all these guys fairly handily to get again. So so far as with him, [does he go to] 145 [pounds], these guys are large and O’Malley does the dimensions and the vary however he’d need to stack on some muscle. He doesn’t have a really large body from what I see. So that may not be the neatest factor.
“However I feel there are some good fights for him that he can win at [135 pounds] after which determine it out from there. Go win a pair extra after which make that call. He’s clearly a really gifted fighter that folks wish to watch.”
