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Tag: Merab Dvalishvili

  • Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

    Marlon Vera Questions Merab Dvalishvili’s Chin Ahead Of Sean O’Malley Title Fight: ‘If You’re Getting Dropped By Cejudo…’

    UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera can see former opponent Sean O’Malley stopping Merab Dvalishvili early when they square off at the Sphere.

    O’Malley, the reigning 135-pound champion, is currently gearing up for his second defense of the title since winning it from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in Boston last August. “Sugar” got his divisional rule underway in emphatic style this past March, dominantly outpointing “Chito” in their headlining rematch at UFC 299 in Miami.

    Vera will be the first to return to action, battling Deiveson Figueiredo this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The champ, meanwhile, is slated to put his gold on the line opposite Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306/Noche UFC.

    O’Malley will look to stall the Georgian challenger’s title ambitions inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere on September 14. And should he connect with a shot early, Vera thinks he has a good chance of doing so…

    Vera: O’Malley Could Finish Dvalishvili ‘If He Catches Him Early’

    During his appearance at media day ahead of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night, Vera looked ahead to his opportunity to revive his title ambitions and commented on the next championship bout set for the 135-pound division.

    After laying some heavy praise on his most recent opponent, the Ecuadorian gave a dismissive take on Dvalishvili, highlighting the knockdown he suffered opposite Henry Cejudo this past February as evidence he can be knocked out.

    “(O’Malley’s) a great fighter. I would be more worried about Merab’s chin,” Vera said. “He’s been dropped by everybody. I mean, if you get dropped by Henry Cejudo, good lord. F*ck, that’s a f*cking four-foot motherf*cker right there. If he (O’Malley) catches him early, the fight could be over.”

    O’Malley has shared a similar prediction, vowing to repeat the feat he achieved opposite Dvalishvili’s teammate in 2023 to deliver a statement-making second successful defense in Las Vegas this fall.

  • VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    VIDEO: Sean O’Malley & Merab Dvalishvili Go Back & Forth While Face To Face For UFC 306 Promo

    The lead-up to Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306/Noche UFC headliner at the Sphere in September looks set to be a heated one.

    Mixed martial arts’ premier organization will stage its second celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. Las Vegas is once again the host venue, but the Octagon will be in significantly different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC will take place inside the unique Sphere venue. For months now, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a sporting spectacle like nothing seen before.

    Tasked with delivering on that with blockbuster action inside the cage are headliners O’Malley and Dvalishvili, who will collide with the former’s bantamweight championship on the line in the main event.

    The pair have long gone back and forth over their matchup, and that trend shows no sign of waning as UFC 306 approaches…

    O’Malley, Dvalishvili Trade Barbs Over Coach Altercation

    “Sugar” and his Georgian challenger recently shared the same space to complete a promotional shoot for the highly anticipated Sphere show.

    Unsurprisingly, things threatened to boil over. And as O’Malley and Dvalishvili exchanged words, their fellow UFC 306 fighter Alexa Grasso reveled in the tension…

    The point of discussion appeared to surround an altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s head coach Tim Welch back in May. The incident also involved Aljamain Sterling, who had accused the trainer of heckling him from the corner during his title defeat to “Sugar” last August.

    “I will smash O’Malley inside the cage and then smash his coach outside of the cage,” Dvalishvili said.

    O’Malley told his upcoming opponent to follow through on his threats.

    “If you have a problem with him, you can take it up with him. He’ll fight you. If that’s what you want. After the fight, you should definitely try to smack his face. You should definitely try that. That would be funny. You should try that.”

    When Dvalishvili said he was hoping to catch up with Welch on the streets, O’Malley once again welcomed that possiblity.

    “You could street fight him. I’d love to see that. You want to die? Is that what you’re saying? He’ll kill you.”

  • Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Official For Noche UFC Main Event At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley’s bantamweight championship will be on the line when mixed martial arts’ leading promotion arrives at the Sphere for UFC 306 on September 14.

    The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in a much different environment this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. In the lead-up, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    And he confirmed this week that O’Malley will be tasked with closing it out in defense of his belt opposite Merab Dvalishvili. White announced the expected news in a video uploaded to the UFC’s social media accounts on Friday night.

    O’Malley Targets Second Successful Defense At The Expense Of Dvalishvili

    When the pair share the Octagon inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, O’Malley will be looking to make Dvalishvili the second victim of his title reign.

    O’Malley (18-1, 1 NC) captured the 135-pound gold in memorable fashion last August, concluding the Boston-held UFC 292 pay-per-view event with a shocking second-round knockout of longtime champ Aljamain Sterling. The result brought “Funk Master’s” record-breaking rule to an end and set up the chance for his teammate to avenge the setback.

    While he’s had to wait for “Sugar” to settle unfinished business with Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in Miami this past March, Dvalishvili (17-4) finally has his first shot at title glory in mixed martial arts booked in.

    The Georgian has had to win 10 straight fights and go unbeaten since 2018 to make it happen. He’s most recently defeated three former champs, getting the better of José Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo on the scorecards to leave no doubt about his status as the unrivaled number one bantamweight contender.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Next Fight – Is He Fighting Merab Dvalishvili?

    Sean O’Malley’s Next Fight – Is He Fighting Merab Dvalishvili?

    Sean O’Malley is arguably more popular than ever after defending his UFC bantamweight title for the first time against Marlon Vera. The champ not only avenged his first UFC loss, but also shut down a ton of doubters.

    O’Malley last fought in March 2024 and fans are eager to see him back in the Octagon. At this time, the bantamweight division lacks clear-cut title challengers and Merab Dvalishvili is the only fighter with a strong case.

    So, who is O’Malley’s next fight and when will the champ return to action?

    Who Will Sean O’Malley Fight Next?

    Although the UFC has yet to confirm it, O’Malley will most likely fight Dvalishvili next. He can’t aim for a super fight with Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title because the latter is expected to fight Max Holloway.

    Similarly, top-ranked fighters in the UFC bantamweight division are either scheduled for matchups or lack an impressive latest win. In contrast, Dvalishvili is riding a ten-fight win streak including wins over Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and José Aldo.

    “The Machine” and “Suga” have also been calling each other out on social media for quite a few months now. There were strong rumors about their fight being the main event of the Riyadh Season Noche UFC card. However, the bantamweight kingpin has clarified that nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

    On July 23, 2024, here’s what O’Malley said about his next fight on his official YouTube podcast:

    “Me vs Merab is next. Everyone knows it. We just don’t know when. We don’t know where. And that’s kind of where that’s at.” He added, “I’m very excited about that fight. Still nothing. Waiting for the UFC to, you know, finally kind of tell us what’s next. Is it going to be Sphere? Is it going to be December, we’re all f*****g on our edge of our seats, waiting.”

    When is Sean O’Malley’s Next Fight?

    O’Malley is most likely to fight in the UFC’s Sphere Event or in December which could be UFC 310. His coach previously claimed that the UFC is finding a new date for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, potentially leading to the delay in confirming other anticipated fights.

    So, for now, fans worldwide can be very certain about O’Malley’s next fight to be Merab Dvalishvili. However, the fight date and venue are hard to speculate unless the UFC announces them officially.

  • Report: UFC Expected To Choose O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili For Sphere Main Event Over Topuria vs. Holloway

    Report: UFC Expected To Choose O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili For Sphere Main Event Over Topuria vs. Holloway

    Should current plans come to fruition, the bantamweight gold will be on the line at the Sphere-held Noche UFC event this fall.

    The promotion will stage its sophomore celebration of Mexican Independance Day on September 14. While Las Vegas is once again the host destination, the Octagon will be in much different surroundings this time around.

    Instead of the T-Mobile Arena for the second straight year, the 2024 edition of Noche UFC is set to go down inside the unique Sphere venue. In the lead-up, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a spectacle like nothing seen before.

    That hype initially left many predicting a stacked lineup to mark the occasion, but it seems those wishing for two blockbuster championship fights at the top of the lineup won’t be getting their wish granted…

    Helwani Dismisses Talk Of Both O’Malley & Topuria Defending Titles At The Sphere

    While Alexa Grasso’s second defense of the flyweight title has long been expected high up the card, there’s been considerable uncertainty when it comes to the other major matchups.

    Most notably, champions Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria have gone back and forth with their respective expected next challengers, Merab Dvalishvili and Max Holloway, over potential Sphere battles.

    Talk of both bouts taking place on September 14 picked up following comments on the official French-Canadian broadcast of this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Denver.

    Unfortunately, it appears that one of those pairings won’t feature at the Sphere.

    During a recent episode of his show, The MMA Hour, host Helwani provided an update on the UFC’s fall plans and addressed the rumors floating around regarding the Sphere-held pay-per-view.

    “The plan was always the Grasso title defense…and then the plan has for some time been ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley vs. Merab,” Helwani said. “Now, both fights aren’t official just yet. They haven’t been signed. But that has been the plan.

    “If they did go with that fight, then the other plan would be Ilia vs. Max most likely on the October 5 Utah card (UFC 307), which hasn’t been officially announced yet. Also on that card, we suspect, Julianna Peña vs. Raquel Pennington,” Helwani continued. “Can’t imagine they would put a Spaniard on a Noche UFC card.”

    This week also saw White provide additional details on the event, revealing that the plan is for just 10 fights to take place during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

    He also claimed the cost has already exceeded $17 million, supporting Helwani’s mention of finances as the reason why neither the possibility of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler nor a three title fight card were entertained.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Theorizes Conor McGregor Uncertainty Is Delaying Confirmation Of Merab Dvalishvili Title Fight At The Sphere

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Theorizes Conor McGregor Uncertainty Is Delaying Confirmation Of Merab Dvalishvili Title Fight At The Sphere

    A fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight championship is all but confirmed. The fighters have been targeting each other online for months and have repeatedly suggested that they might main event the Riyadh Season Noche UFC event.

    O’Malley last defended his title in March against Marlon “Chito” Vera in dominant fashion. Dvalishvili on the other hand, secured his title shot by beating Henry Cejudo in February for his tenth consecutive win in the UFC.

    With both fighters and fans worldwide awaiting an official announcement regarding their matchup, O’Malley’s coach has speculated the reason behind the delay from the UFC.

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Blames McGregor vs. Chandler For Delay In Dvalishvili Fight Confirmation

    During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow on O’Malley’s official YouTube channel, he and Tim Welch discussed whether the UFC has an interest in adding McGregor vs. Chandler to the UFC 306 card at the Sphere. If true, this can naturally lead to other major fights being shifted to different events.

    “Sugar” highlighted that Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is also rumored to be an option for the September 14 card. Yet again, the return of the Irishman can impact when and where this fight happens.

    “The Sphere, and Dana keeps saying it’s going to be something f*****g crazy, and then you got Conor-Chandler maybe going around, you got Max-Ilia, you got me and Merab. You got f*****g some pretty big fights to possibly make, but honest to god, I have not heard from the UFC,” O’Malley said.

    The champ’s coach agreed that the UFC could be eager to organize McGregor vs. Chandler at UFC 306. Because the Dubliner’s commitment has been called into question lately, Welch thinks that the UFC hasn’t been able to confirm the other fights on the card.

    “It’s probably a tough thing for the UFC. It’s like, they want to let you know. If they knew, I’m sure they’d let you know right away. But when you’re dealing with someone like Conor McGregor, who’s just, one day he probably wants it, one day he doesn’t, one day he’s just booger sugared up, one day he’s this. They’re probably waiting on that.”

    During his iconic run to becoming a double UFC champion, McGregor was known for fighting consistently and not pulling out despite injuries. However, his returns to the Octagon since fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring have been the exact opposite.

    With nine weeks remaining before the Riyadh Season Noche UFC event, both O’Malley and his coach expect the official announcement for the Merab Dvalishvili fight to arrive as soon as possible should the promotion decide the bantamweight gold will be on the line at the Sphere.

  • The Pulse of MMA: Was One Fighter Merobbed Of 2021 Best Comeback?

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the UFC’s nominations for Best Comeback of 2021.

    It’s the last week of 2021, which means it’s time to start looking back at the biggest and best moments of the year. Right now, that means taking a peek at the UFC’s nominations for the best comeback of the year.

    After a brief recap of each comeback, you can find the Pulse of MMA letting their collective voice be heard on their thoughts on the final vote tally of the UFC’s poll.

    Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler (UFC 262)

    In the first round, Michael Chandler got off to a very hot start after an opening grappling exchange. After Chandler had his back taken by Charles Oliveira and lived to tell about it, he tagged Oliveira on the feet while pushing a frenetic pace on the Brazilian. It looked as though Oliveira might have been on his way out, but the second round gave fans an alternate ending.

    Anthony Hernandez def. Rodolfo Vieira (UFC 258)

    First, to add a little context. Rodolfo Vieira entered this fight as the largest favorite on the card at a wide -410. At the start of the fight, Vieira looked every bit the part of the heavy favorite. He easily slammed Hernandez to the mat in the first round, which looked to be the beginning of the four-time jiu-jitsu world champion putting an early end to the fight.

    After failing to lock in an arm triangle followed by an unsuccessful armbar attempt, Hernandez was stunningly able to scramble back up to his feet and begin to tee off on the muscle-bound Brazilian. Then, in the second round, this happened:

    Julian Marquez def. Maki Pitolo (UFC 258)

    That’s right, back-to-back nominees from UFC 258. In this one, Marquez actually entered as the slight favorite, but you couldn’t tell by the way the fight started. After clearly being down 2-0 on the judges’ scorecards and looking to be well on his way to a loss, Marquez summoned the powers of Miley Cyrus and the Kansas City Chiefs to pull this off in the final round.

    Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes (UFC 266)

    Brian Ortega was oh so close to being the nominee from UFC 266 in what would have been an incredible comeback win in the third round of the main event. Instead, Merab Dvalishvili grabs the nom’ from his win over Marlon Moraes.

    MMA fans know that first-round Moraes is one of the most lethal fighters in the sport. And those early powers were nearly enough to make the Brazilian the first man to ever KO the roughhouse Georgian.

    It was a big left hand from Moraes in the 1st round that began the danger for Dvalishvili, which was followed by a ferocious onslaught that dropped the Georgian and had him still on wobbly legs before he was able to somehow scramble back up to his feet. After barely managing to survive, here is what happened in the next round:

    MMA Fans Weigh In

    Finally, here is what the Pulse of MMA had to say about the UFC’s nominations list after Oliveira took home the most votes on the official poll.

    https://twitter.com/Stek02/status/1475218680887840773
    https://twitter.com/Derek_Langston/status/1475195380656713734
    https://twitter.com/HasbullaEliteFC/status/1475202584411582470
    https://twitter.com/UFCZack96/status/1475208479207948288

    What say you, MMA News Family? Was Dvalishvili Merobbed by the “casuals” or was Charles Oliveira the rightful winner?