Final night time’s UFC 316 fundamental occasion at Newark’s Prudential Heart was billed as a grudge match, however Merab Dvalishvili turned it right into a wrestling clinic. The bantamweight champion, making his second title protection, as soon as once more outworked Sean O’Malley – this time ending him with a slick third-round choke.
Merab Dvalishvili Celebrates with New York, New Jersey Crowd
Sean O’Malley, who’d vowed revenge after dropping the belt to Dvalishvili final 12 months, discovered himself caught in the identical cycle: numerous flash, however not sufficient solutions for “The Machine’s” relentless tempo.
Merab Dvalishvili was beaming post-fight. “I’m actually completely satisfied,” he stated, on the UFC post-fight press convention.
“It was a special occasion as a result of we had been combating near New York, New Jersey. You already know, I began my skilled profession right here. I began my first steps in the US right here – it was so onerous, a few years in the past. However at the moment, I used to be combating for the belt. Mr. President Donald Trump was right here, Dana White, Hunter Campbell, and all my Georgian folks, all of the immigrants, all my associates from New York and New Jersey, my teammates. It doesn’t get any higher than this. I’m so completely satisfied and grateful.”
The champ’s emotional shoutout was a reminder that, for all of the hype, this was private; a homecoming and a press release rolled into one. As for the battle itself, Dvalishvili’s recreation plan was versatile. He continued: “To be sincere, I’m simply getting higher in every single place. I’m not solely centered on one factor,” he defined.
“Throughout coaching camp, the sport plan modifications. Generally I’m doing physique pictures—I’m going to punch his physique. Generally I look good in putting, so I preserve putting. Generally this camp, I wasn’t enthusiastic about wrestling a lot. I used to be prepared for no matter – possibly he was speaking and making excuses, considering, ‘Perhaps this man actually wasn’t his night time, possibly he’s one thing particular and can cease my wrestling takedowns.’ I used to be able to strike. I wished to win the primary time, particularly towards a harmful opponent like Sean O’Malley.”
The outcome? Dvalishvili placed on a masterclass in adaptability. He pressured O’Malley from the beginning, mixing takedowns with sharp strikes. Sean O’Malley fired again along with his trademark precision, however each time he appeared to discover a rhythm, Merab Dvalishvili dragged him down or clinched him up. By the third spherical, the champ smelled blood and locked within the choke for the faucet – his first UFC submission win, and a becoming exclamation level on a dominant efficiency.
With the win, Merab Dvalishvili cements his place atop the bantamweight division. He’s already eyeing Cory Sandhagen as his subsequent problem, whereas O’Malley heads again to the lab.
