Merab Dvalishvili is putting his personal animosity toward Sean O’Malley aside and is laser-focused as the days wind down to the UFC 306 main event. Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has been eager to fight O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) since he started his UFC journey in 2017 with two consecutive losses. Now, he finally gets his wish on the biggest stage, as he challenges for the bantamweight title on Saturday’s Noche UFC main event at Sphere.

A Long Road to the Title Shot

The journey to a UFC title shot hasn’t been easy for Dvalishvili. It took a 10-fight winning streak in the UFC for him to earn his shot at the gold, and he’s determined to make the most of this opportunity. The Georgian fighter has faced numerous challenges, including injuries and tough opponents, but his resilience has been unwavering.

“This is very special and I was very excited since Dana White announced the fight would be at Sphere on Mexican Independence Day. That was a dream to fight there. I’m sure every UFC fighter was dreaming of fighting there, and I was one of them,” Dvalishvili said in a recent interview. “I was mad at him a couple of times. I was very mad when he mentioned my country in a disrespectful way. My country, it’s more than religion for me. I have my country here (on my necklace), and that’s why I started fighting, because I want to represent my country.”

Dvalishvili’s path has not only been about winning fights; it’s about representing his homeland of Georgia on the global stage. Every time he steps into the octagon, he fights with the weight of his nation’s pride on his shoulders. The Georgian crowd stays up all night or wakes up early to watch him fight, showing their unwavering support.

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A Rivalry Years in the Making

Dvalishvili’s rivalry with O’Malley dates back to 2018 when he called out O’Malley after his first UFC win.

“I called Sean O’Malley because we both beat the same opponent around the same time. I thought he would accept because my record didn’t look good back then, but he never responded,” Dvalishvili explained.

O’Malley, known for his striking and flamboyant style, poses a unique challenge, but Dvalishvili’s relentless grappling and cardio make him a nightmare matchup for the current bantamweight champion.

“Stylistically, it’s easy for me because my cardio, my grappling, my style should work against him,” Dvalishvili noted. “But at the same time, we see what he can do. He can throw something big. I can dominate, but he can throw one punch and change everything.”

Dvalishvili has prepared meticulously for all scenarios, understanding that a fight in the UFC can change in an instant. His grappling-heavy style has proven to be an effective counter to O’Malley’s striking, but he knows he can’t afford to make mistakes.

“Every fight is like this. I don’t look at any fights in the UFC as easy. There are no easy fights here. Not always the best fighter wins. We’ve seen it so many times.”

Representing Georgia and Future Aspirations

One of Dvalishvili’s biggest motivations is representing his country and inspiring young fighters. He dreams of returning to Georgia with the belt, where he’s already a national hero.

“When I win the belt, I’m going to Georgia and I’m celebrating with my people. We’re going to come out on the streets, and it’s going to be crazy,” he said.

Dvalishvili also expressed his desire to give back to the community by opening MMA and jiu-jitsu gyms and engaging in charity work. While the rivalry with O’Malley is significant, Dvalishvili maintains that his primary focus is to win the fight and take the belt.

“I have an even more important thing: to beat him on Saturday night and grab his belt. I can talk after the fight. Maybe I can forgive him, or we can talk. I want to just win and show him he has to be humble and he has to respect everybody.”

Dvalishvili’s relentless work ethic, deep-rooted patriotism, and unyielding spirit make him one of the most formidable fighters in the bantamweight division. As UFC 306 approaches, all eyes are on him to see if he can dethrone O’Malley and bring the title back to Georgia.

Sources: MMAnytt.se