Merab Dvalishvili OUTCLASSES Sean O'Malley to retain UFC bantamweight title

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

The Georgian king showed why he is one of the pound-for-pound stars in the UFC after defeating the former bantamweight champion for a second time
Merab Dvalishvili has decisively ended his feud with Sean O'Malley, after choking out the American in the third round.
In their initial encounter last September at UFC 306, the 'Machine' took control and showcased his stamina and relentless wrestling, winning over countless MMA fans.
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Dvalishvili, who successfully defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year, couldn't wait to step back into the cage and entertain supporters with his jaw-dropping fighting style.
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Ahead of the blockbuster showdown on Saturday night, speculation about Dvalishvili's place amongst the bantamweight elite intensified. Following another victory over 'Suga', it seems he might be just one or two significant triumphs from being considered the greatest in the UFC's most stacked division.
Right from the start, fight enthusiasts made their preference known, as cheers for "O'Malley" filled the venue. The contender started strong, targeting the body early on and landing a clean jab on the champion. O'Malley appeared comfortable maintaining distance and waited patiently for the chance to detonate his dangerous right hand.
Halfway through the opening round, it was the reigning champion who landed the first significant blow, catching 'Suga' with a hook before the challenger appeared to stumble, giving the Georgian the opportunity to pounce and attempt to take the fight to the ground. However, unlike in their first encounter, O'Malley managed to quickly regain his footing, much to the delight of the spectators.
'Suga' clearly had an appetite for the fight, drawing energy from the crowd's enthusiasm. The champion narrowly took the first round after managing to dominate on the mat towards the end of the opening five minutes. A key question leading up to the bout was how O'Malley would handle the relentless wrestling and pressure from the 'Machine.'
The Georgian swiftly rattled the challenger early in the second round with a solid hook. Almost a year since their first face-off, Dvalishvili's striking skills had noticeably improved. O'Malley, fuelled by determination, retaliated with a powerful shot before both fighters exchanged blows at close range. After evading another takedown attempt, 'Suga' rapidly fired back - but the champion, as ruthless as ever, countered with a massive right hand.
In the initial rounds, both fighters were seen trading blows. While many thought this would favour O'Malley, the champion was holding his own. Early in the third round, Dvalishvili took the offensive and swiftly managed a takedown - flooring 'Suga'. After briefly regaining his footing, the challenger was once again brought down. Sensing an opportunity, the 'Machine' went for the kill. After some struggle, Dvalishvili secured a north-south choke, forcing O'Malley to tap out - marking the champion's second professional submission.
In the co-main event, double Olympic judo gold medallist Kayla Harrison seized the women's bantamweight title after submitting Julianna Pena late in the second round. Elsewhere on the main card, Joe Pyfer notched up an impressive decision win over Kelvin Gastelum, while Patchy Mix didn't have a successful promotional debut, losing to rising contender Mario Bautista. Kevin Holland kicked off the main card with a thrilling second-round submission victory over UFC veteran Kevin Holland.