Merab Dvalishvili delivered on his promise to dethrone Sean O’Malley as he placed on a suffocating efficiency to cap off UFC 306 on Saturday evening from Sphere in Las Vegas.
The battle performed out nearly precisely as Dvalishvili envisioned it with relentless strain, takedowns and a dominant floor recreation with O’Malley rising an increasing number of pissed off with every passing spherical. Even within the moments when O’Malley did discover success on the ft, Dvalishvili was fast to rag doll him again to the canvas as he managed the motion for almost all of 25 minutes to say the UFC bantamweight title
The judges in the end scored the battle 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 with Dvalishvili profitable his eleventh consecutive battle and now changing into a UFC champion for the primary time.
“At this time I wasn’t feeling any completely different than every other day,” Dvalishvili stated following his win. “I used to be truly curious why I wasn’t feeling that I used to be combating for a UFC belt. At this time was a traditional day for me. As you see, I don’t spend my power. Loopy. I really feel I’m in a dream. At this time, I’m the very best fighter within the UFC. I proved!
“I can go 15 extra rounds like this. I’ve a belt, I win, all people is aware of I dominated this man.”
Previous to his celebration, there was truly some early friction between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s nook, which led to referee Herb Dean issuing a warning in a wierd second to open the battle. As soon as the motion truly obtained transferring, O’Malley began to ascertain an extended jab that was popping Dvalishvili within the face however that didn’t deter the Georgian from dashing ahead for his first takedown in opposition to the cage.
The battle obtained again to the ft however Dvalishvili truly popped O’Malley with punch earlier than going for an additional takedown after which searching for a guillotine choke earlier than the opening spherical ended.
O’Malley was doing his finest to play a sniper from the skin however he was clearly staying cautious of the takedown, which allowed Dvalishvili to take the middle of the cage and march him down. That led to a 3rd takedown from Dvalishvili as he planted O’Malley on the canvas once more and started hammering down with punches from above.
Dvalishvili additionally began unloading knees to the physique as he continued punishing O’Malley on the bottom earlier than he acquired a warning from Dean after he taunted the champion with a kiss earlier than the horn sounded.
It wasn’t till the third spherical when O’Malley lastly began to seek out some success along with his strikes after he fended off a few takedown makes an attempt after which unloaded with some stiff punches. O’Malley additionally got here near a knee up the center that positively obtained Dvalishvili’s consideration.
Simply when it seemed like O’Malley was settling right into a rhythm on the ft, Dvalishvili timed a gorgeous takedown to place him on the bottom once more. Whereas O’Malley did handle a pleasant inside elbow that opened a minimize on Dvalishvili’s face, the highest ranked bantamweight contender simply stored making use of strain from the highest and peppering away with strikes.
Dvalishvili was simply muscling O’Malley round on the bottom, irritating the champion and by no means giving him a second to breathe. It was rinse and repeat from Dvalishvili with one other takedown to begin the fifth spherical however O’Malley lastly inflicted some harm with a nasty entrance kick to the physique.
With Dvalishvili clearly wincing in ache, O’Malley tried to hurry ahead to do some extra harm however he simply couldn’t discover a gap. Dvalishvili closed the present with yet one more takedown to make sure he would depart Sphere with the title wrapped securely round his waist.
After ready so lengthy for his alternative to battle for a UFC title, Dvalishvili made probably the most of his second by taking out arguably the largest lively celebrity on the roster. In fact there gained’t be any scarcity of challenges for him — together with a possible showdown in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov after he dispatched Cory Sandhagen in his most up-to-date outing.
For his half, Dvalishvili most popular to name for an opportunity to sit down down along with his boss to have a dialogue about his future earlier than discussing what comes subsequent.
“I simply gained the belt,” Dvalisvhili stated. “I respect and love Dana White, no matter he desires. Now I’m champion, I wish to be shut. I would like him to know me extra higher. I respect him. Dana White modified my life. Now take a look at me, I’m the UFC champion!”
