Fighters React to Dvalishvili’s Win Over O’Malley at UFC 306

Merab Dvalishvili’s dominant victory over Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 306 has sparked a wave of reactions from the MMA community. The Georgian grappler showcased his relentless wrestling skills, taking O’Malley down repeatedly and controlling the fight for five rounds. Dvalishvili secured a unanimous decision win with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, capturing the bantamweight title and ending O’Malley’s brief reign as champion.

A Grappling Clinic and Reactions from Fellow Fighters

Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure and elite grappling overwhelmed O’Malley, who struggled to keep the fight standing. The Georgian’s ability to mix takedowns with ground control left no room for O’Malley’s striking game to flourish. Fighters and fans quickly took to social media to express their thoughts on the bout. Henry Cejudo, former UFC double champ and an outspoken critic of O’Malley, delivered a stinging critique by saying, “from sugar to horseshit,” highlighting O’Malley’s sudden fall from the top.

The reactions were mixed but largely recognized Dvalishvili’s skillset and strategic approach to neutralizing O’Malley’s offense. Some fighters praised Dvalishvili’s game plan, noting his superior cardio and unbreakable will, while others speculated about O’Malley’s inability to adjust under pressure.

Umar Nurmagomedov Calls Out Dvalishvili

Umar Nurmagomedov, a rising star in the bantamweight division, wasted no time in challenging the new champion, tweeting, “We have to be next.” Nurmagomedov, known for his own grappling pedigree, expressed interest in testing himself against Dvalishvili’s relentless style. The potential clash would feature two of the division’s top wrestlers, and fans are already buzzing about the implications for the bantamweight rankings.

UFC President Dana White acknowledged the interest surrounding Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov, hinting that this could be the next big fight to make in the division. Dvalishvili, who has now won eleven straight fights, remains open to any challenge and is eager to prove that he is the rightful champion.

From sugar to shit! 50-45 🇬🇪

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024

White Papakha vs Black Papakha
Have to be

Congratulations @MerabDvalishvil
Right now you champion
You deserve this belt
Enjoy .

— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) September 15, 2024

Merab funny as hell kissing that boy lmfao

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 15, 2024

Punch em but don’t kiss em!! #stopthat #ufcnoche #mainevent

— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) September 15, 2024

That’s what a fair fight looks like against the best guy in the world! None of that stacking deck bullshit to get an advantage! #UFC306

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 15, 2024

Fuck man them front kicks had me scared for a sec congrats to Merab what a performance 🫡

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 15, 2024

Merab is fighting very smart so far. He is using forward pressure like always, however the feints and the kicks to set up his boxing is connecting him to the takedowns on Omally, and he’s holding him down very well also. Very smart tactics for Merab #UFCNoche

— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) September 15, 2024

Wow that was dominant!! Merab is a savage.

— Funky (@Benaskren) September 15, 2024

Mojob worked hard. Can’t be mad at him. Respect 🫡

— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) September 15, 2024

Merab in Sean’s head 100%

— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) September 15, 2024

Happy for the homie Merab, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy #UFC306

— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) September 15, 2024

Merab is a beast. Excited to see him and Umar.

— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) September 15, 2024

@MerabDvalishvil 🇬🇪👊🏼❤️

— GIGACHAD (@giga_chikadze) September 15, 2024

Amazing performance congrats champ @MerabDvalishvil 👏🇬🇪

— Caolan Loughran (@DonCaolan135) September 15, 2024

What’s Next for O’Malley?

Sean O’Malley’s defeat exposed significant holes in his game, particularly his grappling defense. The flashy striker, who quickly ascended to the top of the bantamweight rankings, now faces the challenge of re-evaluating his approach. Despite the setback, O’Malley’s star power and unique fighting style ensure he will remain a key figure in the division. The question now is whether he can adapt his skillset to bounce back from this tough loss.

For more detailed results and updates on UFC 306, visit MMAnytt.se

UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili – Full Results

Main Card
Starts at 04:00 CET on Sunday, September 15 – Available on UFC Fight Pass (PPV)/Viaplay

• Bantamweight Title Fight: Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
• Women’s Flyweight Title Fight: Valentina Shevchenko defeated Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
• Featherweight: Diego Lopes defeated Brian Ortega via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Lightweight: Esteban Ribovics defeated Daniel Zellhuber via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Flyweight: Ronaldo Rodriguez defeated Ode Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)

Preliminary Card
Starts at 01:30 CET on Sunday, September 15 – Available on UFC Fight Pass

• Women’s Bantamweight: Norma Dumont defeated Irene Aldana via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes defeated Manuel Torres via TKO Round 1, 4:02
• Women’s Strawweight: Ketlen Souza defeated Yazmin Jauregui via technical submission Round 1, 3:02
• Flyweight: Joshua Van defeated Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Early Preliminary Card
Starts at 01:00 CET on Sunday, September 15 – Available on UFC Fight Pass

• Bantamweight: Raul Rosas Jr. defeated Aori Qileng via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Dvalishvili’s victory has shaken up the bantamweight division and set the stage for exciting future matchups. With his unyielding wrestling and Nurmagomedov waiting in the wings, the division is poised for more thrilling clashes.

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