Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

UFC Middleweight Josh Fremd Feels Merab Dvalishvili Didn’t ‘Beat’ Beat Champion Sean O’Malley [Exclusive]

Josh Fremd recently voiced his opinion that Merab Dvalishvili didn’t definitively defeat Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306. Dvalishvili outclassed O’Malley with superior striking and dominant grappling, resoundingly securing the UFC bantamweight title via unanimous decision last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere. “The Machine” racked up six takedowns over the course of the 25-minute […]

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Josh Fremd recently voiced his opinion that Merab Dvalishvili didn’t definitively defeat Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306.

Dvalishvili outclassed O’Malley with superior striking and dominant grappling, resoundingly securing the UFC bantamweight title via unanimous decision last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere.

“The Machine” racked up six takedowns over the course of the 25-minute bout. He dominated large portions of the fight on the ground, effortlessly nullifying his opponent’s power striking.

“Suga” endured the most one-sided loss of his career, yet he has since contested the judges’ scorecards. In a series of posts on X, he argued that he should have been awarded the decision, claiming to have won rounds one, three, and five.

Fremd echoed O’Malley’s sentiments, questioning whether Dvalishvili truly deserved the victory…

Fremd After Reviewing O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili: ‘It Depends On What The Judges Were Looking For’

During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Fremd shared his thoughts on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. The UFC middleweight prospect revealed that after rewatching the bout, he felt “Suga” didn’t showcase his full potential, and Dvalishvili’s victory wasn’t as decisive as it seemed.

Fremd also voiced concerns about the judges’ scorecards, suggesting they may not have accurately reflected the matchup.

“I thought it looked like O’Malley had an off night,” Fremd said. “After watching it again without commentary or anything like that, I don’t know. I feel like you have to beat, beat the champion, and I don’t know… after rewatching it, in the moment, it definitely seemed like Merab won with his wrestling, grappling, and dominance. But when you go back and look at it, I don’t know… it depends on what the judges were looking for and how exactly they scored it. But congrats to Merab, that was an amazing performance.”

The 30-year-old Colorado native further discussed whether “Suga” deserves an immediate rematch upon his return or if he should face another opponent first to work his way back into the title picture.

“I think, personally, since he’s such a huge star, he should get an immediate rematch,” Fremd responded. “If not, then him versus [Cory] Sandhagen would be an amazing fight to watch, so either one, I think, works.”

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Georges St-Pierre’s Coach All Praise For ‘Genius’ Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306 Performance

Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered Merab Dvalishvili with high praise for his performance against Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306. “The Machine” lived his dream of becoming the UFC bantamweight champion, overpowering defending titleholder O’Malley in a commanding display last Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili put constant forward pressure on […]

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Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered Merab Dvalishvili with high praise for his performance against Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306.

“The Machine” lived his dream of becoming the UFC bantamweight champion, overpowering defending titleholder O’Malley in a commanding display last Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Dvalishvili put constant forward pressure on “Suga” from the start, shutting down his explosive striking game while overwhelming him with a flurry of takedowns, controlling the majority of the bout with his grappling dominance.

Heading into the fight, Dvalishvili was viewed as the underdog, with many expecting him to be outclassed by O’Malley’s dynamic striking. However, the 33-year-old Georgian defied all odds.

Zahabi believes Dvalishvili executed his game plan flawlessly, allowing him to dominate the bout…

Zahabi Says Dvalishvili Didn’t Throw A ‘Sloppy Punch’ O’Malley Could Counter

In a recent video on Tristar Gym’s YouTube channel, Zahabi shared his thoughts on the Noche UFC 306 main event between O’Malley and Dvalishvili. The acclaimed MMA coach praised “The Machine” for his precision and tactical awareness, noting how Dvalishvili expertly stayed out of O’Malley’s striking range.

Zahabi highlighted that the newly crowned champion didn’t throw a single punch that “Suga” could have exploited for an easy counter.

“When it comes to fighting, that guy [Dvalishvili] is a genius. The guy is really, really smart,” Zahabi said. “His timing was correct, his shot selections were very intelligent. He started off with kicking high. He did everything but throw a punch that you can counter. He did everything except throw a sloppy punch, which O’Malley would have cleaned up.

Zahabi applauded Dvalishvili’s exceptional cardio, noting that his incredible endurance keeps him relentless throughout the fight. However, he did acknowledge that despite this, Dvalishvili’s inability to secure more finishes remains a point of critique.

“The only thing you can predict about Merab is he’s gonna shoot for the takedowns, and his cardio is unmatchable. His cardio is ridiculous, guys. The good thing about Merab is his cardio is amazing, his personality is amazing. The bad thing about Merab is he doesn’t finish; he doesn’t even get close to a finish.”

With his recent victory, Dvalishvili extended his impressive winning streak to 11, adding to his résumé triumphs over former champions like Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, and Petr Yan.

It remains to be seen who “The Machine” will face in his first title defense, but for now, undefeated rising star Umar Nurmagomedov appears to be the leading contender.

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach All Praise For ‘Genius’ Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306 Performance at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili delivers savage response to Sean O’Malley’s ‘Still the champ’ claim: ‘Hard to be a dad these days’

Merab Dvalishvili delivers savage response to Sean O'Malley’s ‘Still the champ’ claim: ‘Hard to be a dad these days'Taking umbrage with claims from Sean O’Malley that he actually should’ve won at Noche UFC, new champion, Merab Dvalishvili…

Merab Dvalishvili delivers savage response to Sean O'Malley’s ‘Still the champ’ claim: ‘Hard to be a dad these days'

Taking umbrage with claims from Sean O’Malley that he actually should’ve won at Noche UFC, new champion, Merab Dvalishvili has referred to the Montana striker as his son after lodging a unanimous decision win over him to clinch the crown at the first time of trying.

Dvalishvili, the newly-minted undisputed bantamweight titleholder, headlined his first flagship event under the banner of the promotion over the course of last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere against the undisputed, O’Malley — wrestling and grappling his way to a unanimous judging (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) victory.

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And embarking on a tirade on social media overnight, Contender Series alum, O’Malley claimed he had rewatched his fight with Merab Dvalishvili, maintaining he had won rounds one, three, and five — and thus, should’ve been awarded a decision win, insisting he is still the undisputed titleholder.

“I’M BACKKKK,” Sean O’Malley posted on his Instagram account. “AND STILL. Rewatch the fight. 1,3,5 I won. You have to beat the champ to be the champ. God if feels GOOOOOD!! Thank you guys. Can’t wait to defend my belt again.”

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“Round 1, I won that round 100%!!” Sean O’Malley posted on his official X account.

“Round 2, def lost. Took very little damage tho.”

“Round 3 was closer than round 1 in my opinion. My round. Up 2-1 going into round 4.”

“Round 4 Merab’s round for sure. 2-2 going into the 5th.”

“Round 5 I won. I am the champ. God is good. 1,3,5 round I won. Defending belt against Umar in Vegas June/July.”

“UNDEFEATED!!!”

“AND STILL!!!”

Team Khabib issues warning after Merab Dvalishvili’s silence on Umar Nurmagomedov

“Whether you hate me or love me, rewatch that fight, turn the commentary off and tell me I did not win that fight…” Sean O’Malley posted. “I’m the champ, I won! I’m the champ, where’s my belt!”

Merab Dvalishvili mocks Sean O’Malley claim to undisputed title

Responding to O’Malley’s claims, Tbilisi favorite, Dvalishvili referred to his arch-rival as his son — after claiming he would welcome all comers to the crown including Umar Nurmagomedov, and former undisputed flyweight titleholder, Deiveson Figueiredo.

It’s hard to be a dad these days,” Merab Dvalishvili posted on his official Instagram account, accompanied by him kissing a pillow with Sean O’Malley’s emblazoned on it.

Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

The UFC 306 main event may not have been received that well by some sections of the fanbase but it did see the bantamweight title change hands. Merab Dvalishvili appeared to be in control for the vast majority of the fight against Sean O’Malley, even if the scorecards tell a different story. Though “Suga” was […]

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The UFC 306 main event may not have been received that well by some sections of the fanbase but it did see the bantamweight title change hands.

Merab Dvalishvili appeared to be in control for the vast majority of the fight against Sean O’Malley, even if the scorecards tell a different story.

Though “Suga” was able to hurt his challenger in the fifth and final round, Dvalishvili’s movement, takedowns and reading of the fight were very effective.

His performance massively impressed the #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen who, since the fight, has called next to face O’Malley.

Cory Sandhagen Gives His Post-Fight Analysis Of UFC 306 Main Event

In a recent interview with James Lynch for Fanatics View, Sandhagen gave his thoughts on this past weekend’s bantamweight title fight.

He started by saying that his prediction for the fight had switched as the fight approached, after further consideration.

“I thought O’Malley was going to catch him until I started getting a little bit closer to the fight and I started talking to other people and getting their opinions and what they thought and blah, blah, blah. I was honestly, and not to change my mind because I’m really bad at calling fights, but I did change my mind in this one and go Merab toward the end of it.

“Once I started to reflect on how badass it is to go on a 10 or 11 fight win streak and then also never be finished or anything like that, even though he does get clipped in some of his fights, the shots that he got clipped in weren’t necessarily, like they were lead hooks, they weren’t really things that O’Malley even throws, but I thought Merab did awesome.”

One of the aspects of the fight that Sandhagen was most impressed by was Dvalishvili’s ability to close the distance and shoot for takedowns without putting himself in harm’s way.

This was always going to be where O’Malley was at his most dangerous but it didn’t end up playing into the outcome.

“I thought he fought the fight that you should fight if you have Merab’s skill set against O’Malley. I think he moved when he needed to move. The thing that I was most worried about is Merab’s just a very excitable guy and I was worried that he was gonna not be patient and he was going to bounce around and then make a mistake by going in and he was completely patient. He was cool in there, expect for the whole Tim Welch and his thing in the beginning of the fight but man, he just did such an amazing job and that’s a really, really good win because O’Malley is a really serious fighter.”

Finally, “The Sandman” said that he enjoyed watching this high-stakes clash at the Sphere despite some of the criticisms that it received from fans.

“I know that a lot of fans were bored with that one or whatever but I really do like watching chess matches and I think that that was Merab just out-chessing O’Malley and that was exciting for me to watch.”

Read also: ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss

Continue Reading Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley at MMA News.

Michael ‘Venom’ Page Bemoans Sean O’Malley’s Lack Of ‘Killer Instinct’ After Hurting Merab Dvalishvili

UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page believes Sean O’Malley failed to capitalize on an opening at the end of his recent title loss. O’Malley saw his reign as bantamweight kingpin come to an emphatic end at this past weekend’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view, which he headlined alongside Merab Dvalishvili inside Las Vegas’ Sphere. Having […]

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UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page believes Sean O’Malley failed to capitalize on an opening at the end of his recent title loss.

O’Malley saw his reign as bantamweight kingpin come to an emphatic end at this past weekend’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view, which he headlined alongside Merab Dvalishvili inside Las Vegas’ Sphere.

Having unseated Aljamain Sterling from the throne last year and dominated Marlon Vera in his first defense this past March, “Suga” was unable to repeat the feat against “The Machine,” who put in a dominant performance across five rounds to take the decision.

While predictions of a Dvalishvili win were common in the lead-up, many appeared to expect a more competitive display from O’Malley. And one of his UFC peers thinks he let opportunities to change the tide in the fight slip by.

Page Visibly Frustrated At O’Malley’s Striking Approach At UFC 306

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Page reacted to the two championship headliners that went down inside the Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The former Bellator title challenger and current UFC welterweight contender broke down the action, paying particularly close attention to how O’Malley approached things in his favored realm on the feet.

“MVP” shared plenty of advice that might have been useful to the defending champ throughout the bout’s duration, but he appeared especially puzzled by what he witnessed after O’Malley hurt Dvalishvili to the body late on in the final round.

“He should be tagging his leg even now. Tag his leg, land a jab, tag his body, land a jab,” Page said while watching O’Malley’s work in round five. “You can’t just do one (attack), you’ve got to go again! I think he’s just too tired. … Teep him, kick him. Now hands as well, you need to mix it all up.

“Look, how do you throw one shot and then let him move?! It don’t make sense,” Page continued, just before O’Malley hurt Dvalishvili to the body. “Oh! No! Why would you do that (spinning kick)! … Yes, go again, go again. Look, (Dvalishvili’s) desperate now. This is where he was gonna catch him but I think he’s left it too late. … What are you doing, man?! Bro, you’ve got to have a bit more killer instinct, man.”

While those close to O’Malley suggested he looked off, “Suga” has dismissed any and all excuses and simply admitted he was beaten on the night.

He’ll now focus on his recovery as he looks toward surgery on a torn labrum in the coming weeks. Beyond that, the now-former champ seems to be targeting a comeback in the second half of 2025.

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‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss

Many believed Sean O’Malley’s ability to land a knockout shot would favor him against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. To everyone’s surprise, the challenger was never close to being finished in the fight and won via a unanimous decision. A memorable moment from the fight arrived in the first round when Dvalishvili called out Tim […]

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Many believed Sean O’Malley’s ability to land a knockout shot would favor him against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. To everyone’s surprise, the challenger was never close to being finished in the fight and won via a unanimous decision.

A memorable moment from the fight arrived in the first round when Dvalishvili called out Tim Welch for yelling his name. Herb Dean had to step in and give the coach a warning regarding excessive coaching.

While the MMA community is divided over Welch’s unique corner antics, Matt Serra heavily criticized him for his work at UFC 306…

Matt Serra Believes Tim Welch Got Exposed During Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili At UFC 306

During an interview with the new UFC bantamweight champion on the official UFC YouTube channel, Jim Norton and Matt Serra asked him about the first-round drama. Dvalishvili explained the incident to which Serra outright claimed Welch’s move to be shady.

The former UFC champ then stated that the UFC 306 main event exposed Welch as a coach. O’Malley had been winning and mostly knocking out his opponents effortlessly until now. Like the Petr Yan fight, this was one of those rare times when “Suga” was having trouble finding a way to win.

“This fight exposed him as a coach because when your guy is winning and knocking people out, sure, you look like a f*****g hero. When your fighter is obviously losing the fight and he starts losing rounds, Tim Welch was like not wanting to hurt his feelings. Okay, good round. No! it was you’re losing f*****g three rounds. You got to get in his a**. You got to say, you got to this. He was afraid that he did not know how to handle his guy on that many rounds. And I thought his f****g corner work was s**t. So, he exposed himself.”

Instead of keeping it real, Welch kept on appreciating O’Malley which, according to Serra, wasn’t the right thing to do. The UFC Hall of Famer expected the coach to fire up his fighter by telling him that he’s down three rounds and needs to work more to win.

It is safe to assume that Serra isn’t a big fan of Welch’s coaching style. Having said that, one can’t predict whether more aggressive coaching would’ve helped O’Malley emerge victorious at UFC 306.

Continue Reading ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss at MMA News.