Tag: Sean O’Malley

Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’

UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has seemingly made a mental note of the cut Merab Dvalishvili suffered in training. O’Malley will put his gold on the line in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 next weekend, topping the lineup alongside Dvalishvili for the promotion’s second Mexican Independence Day celebration. Their bout marks the main […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’ at MMA News.

UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has seemingly made a mental note of the cut Merab Dvalishvili suffered in training.

O’Malley will put his gold on the line in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 next weekend, topping the lineup alongside Dvalishvili for the promotion’s second Mexican Independence Day celebration.

Their bout marks the main attraction of the highly anticipated event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. But the lead-up to the card was briefly struck by cancellation fears after Dvalishvili posted a cut from camp on social media a few weeks out.

While the Georgian challenger insists his title shot was never in jeopardy and has since returned to usual training, that didn’t stop UFC CEO Dana White from publicly slamming “The Machine.”

“The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

“It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

And we can seemingly count O’Malley among those who agree with White’s take…

O’Malley Puts Dvalishvili’s Cut In His Crosshairs

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, O’Malley looked ahead to his sophomore bantamweight title defense, touching on one of the main topics that has arisen in the latter part of the Noche UFC build-up.

Many suggested Dvalishvili made a mistake by publicly displaying a cut for his opponent to target, and “Sugar” backed that up by insisting he will reopen the blemish at some point in the PPV main event on Sept. 14.

“I am 100 percent going to open up that cut, whether it’s healed or not,” O’Malley said. “I don’t know how much it can heal. I’ve never really had any bad cuts, so I’m not sure. But that’s the left side of his face. This right hand doesn’t miss.

“I’ll probably accidentally hit his nose before I hit that cut. That nose just kinda takes up like 85 percent of his face, so I’m gonna try to get around his face and get to that cut,” O’Malley continued. “Dana referring to him as one of the — I don’t remember what he said, one of the stupidest people or beyond stupid. Whatever he said was pretty accurate. I mean, the dude’s just not that smart of a guy.”

O’Malley will look to inflict that damage, as well as much more, en route to breaking Dvalishvili’s lengthy winning run, both stalling the Georgian’s title ambitions and retaining his place on the bantamweight throne in the process.

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’ at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’

UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has seemingly made a mental note of the cut Merab Dvalishvili suffered in training. O’Malley will put his gold on the line in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 next weekend, topping the lineup alongside Dvalishvili for the promotion’s second Mexican Independence Day celebration. Their bout marks the main […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’ at MMA News.

UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley has seemingly made a mental note of the cut Merab Dvalishvili suffered in training.

O’Malley will put his gold on the line in the main event of Noche UFC/UFC 306 next weekend, topping the lineup alongside Dvalishvili for the promotion’s second Mexican Independence Day celebration.

Their bout marks the main attraction of the highly anticipated event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. But the lead-up to the card was briefly struck by cancellation fears after Dvalishvili posted a cut from camp on social media a few weeks out.

While the Georgian challenger insists his title shot was never in jeopardy and has since returned to usual training, that didn’t stop UFC CEO Dana White from publicly slamming “The Machine.”

“The whole world knows about Merab’s cut. He posted it. Our guys are so dumb, it’s next-level unbelievable,” White said during a DWCS press conference. “All the stuff I talk about boxing, what I will give boxing, is when something happens in a camp, man, let me tell you what, it does not leak. Our guys can’t f*cking wait to throw it up on social media.

“It’s a small cut. It’s no big deal. But obviously, it needed to be posted,” White continued. “Why the f*ck would you want him to know that? It is next-level stupid. Some of these guys are so stupid it’s mind-boggling. It’s unbelievable.”

And we can seemingly count O’Malley among those who agree with White’s take…

O’Malley Puts Dvalishvili’s Cut In His Crosshairs

During a recent interview with Kevin Iole, O’Malley looked ahead to his sophomore bantamweight title defense, touching on one of the main topics that has arisen in the latter part of the Noche UFC build-up.

Many suggested Dvalishvili made a mistake by publicly displaying a cut for his opponent to target, and “Sugar” backed that up by insisting he will reopen the blemish at some point in the PPV main event on Sept. 14.

“I am 100 percent going to open up that cut, whether it’s healed or not,” O’Malley said. “I don’t know how much it can heal. I’ve never really had any bad cuts, so I’m not sure. But that’s the left side of his face. This right hand doesn’t miss.

“I’ll probably accidentally hit his nose before I hit that cut. That nose just kinda takes up like 85 percent of his face, so I’m gonna try to get around his face and get to that cut,” O’Malley continued. “Dana referring to him as one of the — I don’t remember what he said, one of the stupidest people or beyond stupid. Whatever he said was pretty accurate. I mean, the dude’s just not that smart of a guy.”

O’Malley will look to inflict that damage, as well as much more, en route to breaking Dvalishvili’s lengthy winning run, both stalling the Georgian’s title ambitions and retaining his place on the bantamweight throne in the process.

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Promises To Reopen Merab Dvalishvili Cut At Noche UFC: ‘The Dude’s Just Not That Smart’ at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili addresses Dana White’s concerns over UFC 306 injury: ‘This is who I am’

Merab Dvalishvili addresses Dana White's concerns over UFC 306 injury: 'This is who I am'Despite receiving backlash for first publicizing how he suffered a nasty laceration ahead of Noche UFC from Dana White…

Merab Dvalishvili addresses Dana White's concerns over UFC 306 injury: 'This is who I am'

Despite receiving backlash for first publicizing how he suffered a nasty laceration ahead of Noche UFC from Dana White — and then after removing his stitches with garden shears, Merab Dvalishvili claims it’s like it or lump it when it comes to him.

Dvalishvili, the current number one ranked bantamweight contender, is slated to headline Noche UFC later this month at the Las Vegas Sphere, challenging for Octagon gold for the first time in a showdown against incumbent divisional champion, Sean O’Malley.

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Riding an impressive 10-fight winning run, Georgian contender, Dvalishvili most recently turned in a impressive unanimous decision win over former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo on the main card of UFC 298 back in February to finally ear his premiere title charge in the organization.

Merab Dvalishvili Will Not Be Pulling Out From UFC 306 Due to Cut: "You guys are WEAK"

However, ahead of the long-anticipated charge with O’Malley, Dvalishvili has come under fire from White who questioned why he would first show off a cut suffered in training on social media, before turning doctor and removing his own stitches with a garden sheers.

Merab Dvalishvili unfazed by worry from UFC CEO, Dana White

And as far as Tbilisi grappler, Dvalishvili is concerned, critics should just accept him for who he is.

Sean O'Malley’s coach warns Merab Dvalishvili of major flaw: ‘Too close to the fight now to fix'

“I never regret what I did,” Merab Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie. “I post this because I post everything in my social media. It wasn’t a big deal because I had more than three weeks when I got cut, and I know that my cut will take five days to heal up, and then this cut didn’t affect my training, my sparring — nothing. As you see, I’m healed up. Everything is good.”

“When I saw Dana (White) was upset, of course, I don’t want to upset Dana White and the UFC or do something like that,” Merab Dvalishvili explained. “But I was very calm and relaxed because it wasn’t a big deal. I don’t regret nothing. This is who I am, this is what I do, and this is my life. That’s why I’m a fighter, and this is my life and what I do.”

Khabib’s coach questions Sean O’Malley’s star power compared to Canelo and Conor

Khabib’s coach questions Sean O’Malley’s star power compared to Canelo and ConorSet to go head to head in a pay-per-view setting later this month against super middleweight boxing star, Canelo…

Khabib’s coach questions Sean O’Malley’s star power compared to Canelo and Conor

Set to go head to head in a pay-per-view setting later this month against super middleweight boxing star, Canelo Alvarez — and fast eyeing the stardom of UFC ace, Conor McGregor, Las Vegas Sphere headliner, Sean O’Malley may not be on the cusp of superstar level just yet, according to American Kickboxing Academy maestro, Javier Mendez.

O’Malley, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, is slated to return in his second defense of the divisional title, headlining Noche UFC in a battle against surging divisional star, Merab Dvalishvili at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Daniel Cormier explains how O'Malley is playing psychological games with Merab Dvalishvili
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Sidelined since he topped UFC 299 back in April, Montana striker, Sean O’Malley most recently made lightwork of former foe, Marlon Vera, avenging his sole professional loss in a one-sided unanimous decision win over the Ecuadorian challenger.

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Sean O’Malley not the star he thinks he is?

And set to go head-to-head with super middleweight puncher, Canelo — who takes on New York contender, Edgar Berlanga in ‘Sin City’ — despite claiming fans will be talking about him rather than the former come Monday morning, as well as noting plans to overtake McGregor as the promotional poster boy, the above-mentioned, Mendez certainly has his reservations.

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“That’s Mexican’s Day for pay-per-view, it’s always been that way for as long as I remember,” Javier Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “And Canelo (Alvarez) being the biggest superstar in Mexico fighting on that night, I think on a pay-per-view level, it’s going to be difficult to compete. On top of that, if you look at the prices.”

“I don’t think that Sean O’Malley’s a huge star yet,” Mendez explained. “I think he can be, and I — but I don’t think he’s Conor-ish. I don’t think he’s — honestly speaking, where he needs to be yet. I mean, he’s got all the charismatic personality. He’s got the fighting style. But I just don’t think he has that he has that, the people that can propel him into that next level.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Doesn’t Consider Sean O’Malley ‘A Huge Star Yet’ To Sell More PPVs Than Canelo

Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili on September 14, 2024. Riyadh Season Noche UFC is the most expensive UFC event ever and it’ll go toe-to-toe with a boxing event featuring Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga. While UFC 306 is booked for the Las Vegas Sphere, Álvarez will defend one of […]

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Doesn’t Consider Sean O’Malley ‘A Huge Star Yet’ To Sell More PPVs Than Canelo at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley will defend his UFC bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili on September 14, 2024. Riyadh Season Noche UFC is the most expensive UFC event ever and it’ll go toe-to-toe with a boxing event featuring Canelo Álvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga.

While UFC 306 is booked for the Las Vegas Sphere, Álvarez will defend one of his super middleweight titles against Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena. The date and timings of the boxing and MMA bouts will clash, and fans can’t help but anticipate which event will be a bigger commercial success.

According to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, O’Malley won’t be able to outsell Álvarez in PPV terms despite the UFC calling its event a celebration of Mexican heritage…

Javier Mendez Blames Prices And Sean O’Malley Not Being As Popular As Conor McGregor For Underwhelming Noche UFC Sales

Nurmagomedov’s coach discussed whether O’Malley is a big enough draw to compete with Álvarez directly on the Javier Mendez Podcast recently. He outright highlighted the boxer’s massive following in Mexico and how “Suga” is yet to achieve Conor McGregor’s levels of stardom.

“That’s mexican’s day for pay-per-view, it’s always been that way for as long as I remember. And Canelo being the biggest superstar in Mexico fighting on that night, I think on a pay-per-view level, it’s going to be difficult to compete. On top of that, if you look at the prices.”

The Mexican Independence Day is September 16, and unsurprisingly, sporting events around the date have usually been headlined by the most popular Mexican athletes. Mendez called Álvarez the biggest star in Mexico and predicted that his fight could generate more revenue than Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

Mendez didn’t put all the blame on O’Malley, though. Despite the recent price drop, the cheapest tickets for Riyadh Season Noche UFC cost over $700. In contrast, the cheapest tickets to Canelo vs. Berlanga are $400 at the time of writing.

According to Nurmagomedov’s coach, unless someone’s a huge MMA fan, they would consider watching one of the biggest names in boxing history for a lesser price.

“I don’t think that O’Malley’s a huge star yet. I think he can be, and I, but I don’t think he’s Conor-ish. I don’t think he’s, honestly speaking, where he needs to be yet. I mean, he’s got all the charismatic personality. He’s got the fighting style. But I just don’t think he has that he has that, the people that can propel him into that next level.”

Mendez admitted that “Suga” has the personality and fighting style to be a much bigger star in the future. However, he’s more interested in the winner of the UFC 306 main event defending their belt against Umar Nurmagomedov, who potentially secured a title shot by defeating Cory Sandhagen recently.

As of now, around 1,700 Riyadh Season Noche UFC tickets remain to be sold and Dana White expects a sell-out and a record $21 million gate.

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Doesn’t Consider Sean O’Malley ‘A Huge Star Yet’ To Sell More PPVs Than Canelo at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach On Approach To Avoid Against Sean O’Malley: ‘That’s How We’re Gonna Get Knocked Out’

Merab Dvalishvili has won ten consecutive UFC fights to find himself as the number one contender in the bantamweight division. In many of his signature wins over the likes of Henry Cejudo, José Aldo and Petr Yan, it has been his relentless cardio and grappling game that usually sees him dominate opponents. Though the Georgian […]

Continue Reading Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach On Approach To Avoid Against Sean O’Malley: ‘That’s How We’re Gonna Get Knocked Out’ at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili has won ten consecutive UFC fights to find himself as the number one contender in the bantamweight division.

In many of his signature wins over the likes of Henry Cejudo, José Aldo and Petr Yan, it has been his relentless cardio and grappling game that usually sees him dominate opponents.

Though the Georgian fighter has shown a willingness to test his striking skills rather than constantly chaining together his takedown attempts, he has been hurt several times whilst standing with other contenders.

While it is important for Dvalishvili to not be too one dimensional in his upcoming title fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 306, his coach is also very aware that this is where they have the best chance of winning this fight.

John Wood Says It’s Important For Merab Dvalishvili To Use His Grappling Skill Set At UFC 306

O’Malley and Dvalishvili are far too accomplished as overall mixed martial arts to refer to this fight as entirely a striker vs grappler match-up, but it’s clear that they do their best work in the respective ranges.

This is something that was stressed by John Wood in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, where he spoke about Dvalishvili’s preparations.

He isn’t going to be training his fighter to neglect his striking skills but at the same time, he knows that if they aren’t looking to use their grappling whenever they can, they’re making it an easier night for the champion on September 14.

“I never want to overlook what got Merab to the dance, what brought Merab into this title fight and we have to try to keep those things in check and not lose ourselves. ‘Oh we have to go learn traditional boxing, we have to learn striking, we have to do these things to compete with O’Malley,’ because that’s how we’re going to get knocked out. Merab is a crazy man we just have to make him a technical crazy man.”

Read also: Coach On Sean O’Malley Not Defending Title Against Umar Nurmagomedov: “If ‘Suga’ Just Faceplants Merab & Drops A ‘Hendo’ Bomb…”

Continue Reading Merab Dvalishvili’s Coach On Approach To Avoid Against Sean O’Malley: ‘That’s How We’re Gonna Get Knocked Out’ at MMA News.