Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

‘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.

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Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s ‘Abysmal’ Finishing Rate: ‘Fans Will Get Sick Of Him’

Merab Dvalishvili comfortably beat Sean O’Malley on the scorecards to win the UFC bantamweight championship at UFC 306. He secured six takedowns, ten minutes of ground control, and outstruck the champion to silence all the doubters. “The Machine” had to wait a long time to get his first UFC title shot. After losing his first […]

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Merab Dvalishvili comfortably beat Sean O’Malley on the scorecards to win the UFC bantamweight championship at UFC 306. He secured six takedowns, ten minutes of ground control, and outstruck the champion to silence all the doubters.

“The Machine” had to wait a long time to get his first UFC title shot. After losing his first two fights in the promotion, he won ten in a row and fired through top tier competition like Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo to become the undeniable contender.

Many believe that Dvalishvili’s fighting style is one reason why the UFC didn’t push him as much as other stars like Sean O’Malley, Umar Nurmagomedov, or Ilia Topuria. Here’s what Georges St-Pierre’s coach thinks on the matter…

GSP’s Coach Criticzes Merab Dvalishvili For Rarely Threatening To Finish Sean O’Malley Or Past Opponents

Firas Zahabi discussed the UFC 306 main event on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel recently. The coach admitted to loving Dvalishvili’s unhinged personality and smartness inside the Octagon but couldn’t help but notice the lack of finishes on his record.

“His finishing record is abysmal guys. I gotta be honest. I’m telling you guys I love the guy he’s the new world champion I think he’s awesome. However, his finishing rate. Imagine you could take down almost everybody you’ve ever fought and you literally only have one submission. That doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t make any sense. You’re literally taking everyone down, how come you never finish?”

Zahabi highlighted that Dvalishvili has had the potential to take down all his opponents (except Jose Aldo). Still, he only has one submission win in his pro MMA record which is as baffling as it sounds.

According to GSP’s coach, Dvalishvili must prioritize finishing his fights as a champ. His title victory already has MMA circles divided and a couple of similar performances might stop him from reaping all the benefits of being a UFC champion.

“If he doesn’t do it. I’ll tell you something. The fans will get sick of him. They’ll get sick of him running around the ring and just taking people down. Running around the ring and taking people down, like, they’re going to get sick of that. He has to entertain the crowd, he has to show finishing ability. If he doesn’t, can be disastrous to his career.”

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‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amidst UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds. Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were […]

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Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds.

Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were some memorable moments. One of these came right at the beginning of the first when Dvalishvili criticized O’Malley’s coach for distracting him and Herb Dean had to step in.

While many have called Welch unprofessional for implementing his corner tactics, Chael Sonnen has defended the coach…

Chael Sonnen Clears ‘Misunderstanding’ Around Tim Welch Calling Out Merab Dvalishvili During Sean O’Malley Fight

Sonnen, while reacting to the UFC 306 main event on his YouTube channel, revealed his close relationship with Welch as a teammate. Despite the natural bias, he had many arguments to prove that the coach didn’t cross any lines at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

For starters, the former title challenger remembered that many moves in MMA and boxing are named after pioneers who discovered or popularized them. So, when a coach yells a fighter’s name, they might be referring to a certain move instead of distracting the opponent.

Sonnen also talked to Welch on the phone and stood by the latter based on the tone of his statements. “The American Gangster” highlighted that the fight had just begun, and there was no way Welch’s comments were out of frustration or anger.

“When he said pressure Merab, you’re going to have to go Merab. When Tim said that, he had a very similar tone, he was just speaking, raised his voice a little bit. Wasn’t yelling, wasn’t being demeaning, there was by no means, profanity, and would you like to know, why there were none of those things? Would you like to know why that was the tone? It was right at the beginning of the match. I mean, all hell didn’t even break loose. Nobody’s chips are down, nobody’s frustrated.”

Sonnen also discussed Welch’s intention when O’Malley fought for the title against Aljamain Sterling. In a viral clip, the coach could be heard screaming Aljo’s name following which he went for a punch which helped “Suga” land the knockout blow. However, both incidents are unrelated as Sterling has confirmed he didn’t listen to Welch.

“And do you want to know why it was so calm? Because he wasn’t talking to Merab, He wasn’t telling Merab what to do, and that has been a misunderstanding of this entire thing.”

MMA fans seem to be divided over the matter, for now. Although “Funkmaster” has admitted to not hearing Welch and Dvalishvili shut him down fairly quickly, the fact that Welch took an opponent’s name from the corner in consecutive fights is upsetting for many.

Continue Reading ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amidst UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy at MMA News.

Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili

Marlon Vera recently drew parallels to one of Conor McGregor’s fights to highlight the strategic missteps Sean O’Malley made in his bout against Merab Dvalishvili. “Suga’s” reign as champion came to a close last weekend in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where he endured a unanimous decision […]

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Marlon Vera recently drew parallels to one of Conor McGregor’s fights to highlight the strategic missteps Sean O’Malley made in his bout against Merab Dvalishvili.

“Suga’s” reign as champion came to a close last weekend in the main event of Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, where he endured a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Dvalishvili.

O’Malley struggled to find his rhythm throughout the fight as Dvalishvili stormed in, guns blazing, unleashing an unyielding assault of takedowns. The defending champion had no answers for the onslaught and ultimately fell short, losing the bout.

O’Malley initially seemed reluctant to let his strikes fly during the fight, possibly due to “The Machine’s” dominance in chain wrestling and calculated approach, which suffocated the American’s ability to find his footing.

Interestingly, “Chito,” who has shared the Octagon with O’Malley twice, echoed similar sentiments regarding the defending champion’s performance…

Vera Believes O’Malley Missed Early Striking Opportunity To Counter Dvalishvili’s Gameplan

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Vera shared his thoughts on the title bout between O’Malley and Dvalishvili at Noche UFC 306. The former title challenger suggested that if “Suga” had landed some early shots on a fresh Dvalishvili, the outcome could have swung in his favor.

Vera pointed out that Dvalishvili has been rocked before, referencing his previous knockdowns at the hands of Henry Cejudo and Marlon Moraes.

“he main event, it was a guy that I just fought two fights ago against Merab,” Vera said. “That was a great fight. I mean, I really thought if Sean could have hit Merab early in the fight, things could change, based on him being dropped by Cejudo and Marlon Moraes, but he just couldn’t land. Merab has that kind of jerky move like it’s hard to hit him in a way you can snipe this guy. You almost have to fight him.”

“Chito” went on to compare O’Malley’s tactical blunder to Conor McGregor’s second-round TKO victory over Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in July 2015. Vera highlighted that every time “The Notorious” broke free from Mendes’ takedowns, he immediately closed the distance and applied pressure. In contrast, O’Malley did the opposite against “The Machine”, allowing Dvalishvili to dictate the fight.

“I would say the one thing, comparing the fight to Chad Mendes and Conor, is that every time Conor got up, he would crawl right away, like he would be in his face immediately. Every time Sean got up, there was a little separation, so that probably messed with his rhythm. And Merab, we all know, can just take you down over and over. So I think, in my opinion, you just have to sit down and fight him. He’s going to take you down regardless, so you might as well just go crazy on him. But overall, great fight. Congratulations to the new champion.”

O’Malley captured the bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023. He went on to defend his belt in impressive style against Vera at UFC 299 this past March, where he avenged the sole setback on his Octagon record.

Following his recent defeat, the 29-year-old Montana native shared that he has no plans to step back into the Octagon anytime soon, hinting at a potential return around mid-2025.

Continue Reading Former Opponent Uses McGregor Fight To Highlight O’Malley’s Tactical Error Versus Dvalishvili at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley’s Coach Rejects ‘Unsportsmanlike’ Accusations At UFC 306: ‘This Is A Fight!’ 

Tim Welch, coach of recently dethroned UFC star Sean O’Malley, has hit back at claims his calls to opposition fighters from the corner is “unsportsmanlike.” Welch was unable to guide his man to a second successful title defense in Las Vegas this past weekend, where the unique Sphere venue played host to the UFC’s second […]

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Tim Welch, coach of recently dethroned UFC star Sean O’Malley, has hit back at claims his calls to opposition fighters from the corner is “unsportsmanlike.”

Welch was unable to guide his man to a second successful title defense in Las Vegas this past weekend, where the unique Sphere venue played host to the UFC’s second annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

“Suga” was comfortably outpointed across five rounds by Merab Dvalishvili, who recorded an 11th straight triumph inside the Octagon to secure his long-awaited championship crowning on MMA’s biggest stage.

The headlining fight was an odd affair, and that was the case almost immediately. In the opening seconds, referee Herb Dean had to interfere as Dvalishvili began lambasting O’Malley’s corner.

As it turned out, coach Welch had been up to his old tricks, repeating the opposition coaching he employed in an attempt to fool Aljamain Sterling into an ill-advised rush in Boston last year.

The Georgian wasn’t about to let those antics go unanswered, and many in the community have since backed him up and criticized the actions of O’Malley’s trainer.

Coach Welch On Controversial Corner Strategy: ‘If There’s Any Way To Do A Little Bit Of Mind Games…’

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Welch reflected on his man’s championship loss inside the Sphere and touched on the controversy surrounding his input in the fight.

Welch said he was surprised at Dvalishvili’s emotional outburst following one remark early on, which he went on to defend by insisting that he’ll always look for an edge that could aid his fighter inside the cage.

“He must have been anticipating that a little bit. But I really wasn’t going out of my way to yell,” Welch said. “I was surprised how much he freaked out. He let his emotions freakin’ get to him in there. But, it didn’t do anything, it didn’t matter one bit.

“It’s not like I’m being unsportsmanlike. I mean, it’s a little mind games. People sometimes forget that this is a fight. He’s fighting my buddy, a really close buddy who I’ve spent a lot of years growing up with. He’s fighting him, trying to beat him up,” Welch continued. “If there’s any way to do a little bit of mind games when it comes to war, I’m gonna do it. If I was your coach and I thought it might help you win, maybe just a little bit, then I’d probably do it also.”

Whether or not such a strategy contributed to O’Malley’s title-winning performance against Sterling is up for debate, but there’s no doubt about the lack of affect it had on proceedings at UFC 306.

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley’s Coach Rejects ‘Unsportsmanlike’ Accusations At UFC 306: ‘This Is A Fight!’  at MMA News.

Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov

The next bantamweight title fight already appears to be lined up following the main event of UFC 306 this past weekend. Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere to become the new champion and was immediately asked about the prospect of facing Umar Nurmagomedov next. Though Dvalishvili doesn’t seem too sold on the idea, […]

Continue Reading Demetrious Johnson Highlights ‘X-Factor’ That Could Make A Difference In Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov at MMA News.

The next bantamweight title fight already appears to be lined up following the main event of UFC 306 this past weekend.

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley inside the Sphere to become the new champion and was immediately asked about the prospect of facing Umar Nurmagomedov next.

Though Dvalishvili doesn’t seem too sold on the idea, the UFC is clearly heading in this direction after Nurmagomedov defeated Cory Sandhagen in August.

In a clash of two of the most feared grapplers in the UFC right now, a former UFC champion believes that cardio may be the difference between them.

Demetrious Johnson Says Conditioning Could Be Key For Merab Dvalishvili Against Umar Nurmagomedov

In his post-fight breakdown of the main event at Noche UFC, Demetrious Johnson spoke about the next step for the new king of the bantamweights.

The former UFC flyweight champion said that when looking at Dvalishvili and how he matches up with Nurmagomedov, a few key differences stand out.

“Mighty Mouse”, who recently announced his retirement, drew attention to the fact that whilst the champion is known for smothering his opponents, Nurmagomedov is usually less reliant on pressure.

Johnson therefore believes that Dvalishvili’s seemingly endless gas tank could be his biggest weapon in this fight because we haven’t seen that same pace and output from the potential challenger.

“This is going to be interesting because I feel his [Merab] conditioning is going to be the X-factor because we know he’s not going to stop, he’s going to be a busy bee around the Octagon to where this gentleman [Umar] has the high kicks, he’s very long, he’s very big and he also has the wrestling but he does not have the work ethic like this man [Merab]. Not saying he doesn’t have the work ethic, he doesn’t have just that, ‘I’m coming to smash you, I’m coming to smother you,’ like Khabib. This man [Merab] has that bear gene were he just comes and gets you where he’s [Umar] more strategic.”

Read also: Umar Nurmagomedov’s Coach On Merab Dvalishvili: ‘Cain Velasquez In The Bantamweight Division’

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