UFC Fighters React to Merab Dvalishvili's Upset Win Over Sean O'Malley

15/09/2024 07:06

The fight between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili started off weird when just a few seconds into the fight he started yelling at Tim Welch in O'Malley's corner. Herb Dean stopped the fight to admonish Dvalishvili and Welch. 

Uncle Herb is NOT playing today. I think I started this 😂😂😂#UFC306

— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) September 15, 2024

Fighters aren't allowed to talk to a corner?

— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) September 15, 2024

As predicted, Dvalishvili uses his takedowns to win much of the exchanges. In round two O'Malley is admonished for grabbing the glove of Dvalishvili. At the end of the round Dvalishvili kissed the back of O'Malley who responded by charging him. This is all before the championship rounds. 

Merab over kissing suga 😂 #UFC306

— Chris "El Guapo" Gutierrez (@CGutierrezMMA) September 15, 2024

This is a Merab fight!! 😂 #UFC306

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 15, 2024

Punch em but don't kiss em!! #stopthat#ufcnoche#mainevent

— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) September 15, 2024

Dvalishvili won the first three rounds fairly easily but got cut in the fourth round during a takedown. So far, Dvalishvili hasn't been in any danger in this fight as they head into the fifth and final round. And from there, it was all Dvalishvili ... again. 

Dvalishvili earned a dominant scorecard over O'Malley to become the new UFC champion. 

Merab is fighting very smart so far. He is using forward pressure like always, however the feints and the kicks to set up his boxing is connecting him to the takedowns on Omally, and he's holding him down very well also. Very smart tactics for Merab #UFCNoche

— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) September 15, 2024

And New!!!#UFC306

— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) September 15, 2024

That's what a fair fight looks like against the best guy in the world! None of that stacking deck bullshit to get an advantage! #UFC306

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 15, 2024

Merab found the formula to Sean! Let me at him next #UFC306

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024

O'Malley and Dvalishvili have been going back and forth for years about a fight and the drama heated up after O'Malley knockout of Dvalishvili's best friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling to win the bantamweight title. 

Dvalishvili was coming into the fight on an eight-fight win streak including three back-to-back-to-back wins over former champions Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. O'Malley was coming off his win over Marlon "Chito" Vera, a rematch he requested before fighting Dvalishvili who has been the No. 1 contender for months. 

The fight headlined the iconic Sphere Las Vegas venue and was the first live sporting event in the locale. The UFC spent $23 million putting the event together and it exceeded expectations with wild fights, insane production and Octagon girls in historic costumes. UFC CEO Dana White has said this is a one-and-done event but now that it's been so successful it will be interesting to see if he sticks to his word.