Georgia has another champion.
Merab Dvalishvili scored the biggest win of his career at UFC 306 last night (Sat., Sept. 14, 2024), when he dominated Sean O’Malley for five rounds to capture the UFC Bantamweight championship via unanimous decision from inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Before his title fight, Giorgi Kokiashvil of Setanta Sports posted a video of Georgian people taking to the streets at 7 a.m. in Tbilisi, Georgia, to watch him compete.
This is Tbilisi, Georgia right now. It’s 7AM. People are in the streets, city is totally paralyzed and Georgian fans are waiting Merab Dvalishvili’s Championship fight against Sean O’Malley. CRAZY SCENES!
Setanta Sports #UFC306 | #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/uSPMFoTx08
— Giorgi Kokiashvili (@iHeartGeorgius1) September 15, 2024
And by the end of the fight, more than 10,000 fans had shown up to watch Dvalishvili win the title.
Check out the epic video below:
This is how Georgian fans celebrated Merab Dvalishvili’s Championship victory over Sean O’Malley in the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia
7AM, more than 10’000 people, paralyzed streets, total joy and unforgettable emotions! ?
Setanta Sports#UFC306 | #NocheUFC |… pic.twitter.com/fVk5fnERf4
— Giorgi Kokiashvili (@iHeartGeorgius1) September 15, 2024
It is always awesome to see a country get behind a fighter, and it’s even more incredible to see them lose their minds when that fighter wins—and, in this case, a title.
Georgia now has two champions, both of which captured UFC gold in 2024. Ilia Topuira won the Featherweight championship in February when he slept Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298.
Are Roman Dolidze and Guram Kutateladze next? (Probably not)
Dvalishvili, 33, is riding an 11-fight win streak with wins over four former UFC champions.
For complete UFC 306 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.