Merab Dvalishvili defeats Sean O'Malley in one-sided fight

A bantamweight title bout headlined Saturday’s UFC 306 fight card at the Sphere in Las Vegas.  Champion Sean O’Malley put his title on the line against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.  

O’Malley won the 135-pound championship by stopping Dvalishvili’s teammate Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.  He successfully defended the belt against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299 in March avenging a previous loss to the Ecuadorian.

Dvalishvili made the walk to the octagon riding a 10-fight winning streak and hadn’t tasted defeat since April 2018.  He’d been the top contender in the division for some time but would not fight his teammate, Sterling.  With Sterling no long the champion, Dvalishvili finally got his title shot.       

O’Malley came out pressuring Dvalishvili.  Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight to warn Dvalishvili about something.  The fight was restarted.  O’Malley landed to the body with a right hand.  Dvalishvili answered with a leg kick.  O’Malley went to the body again.  Referee Herb Dean warned O’Malley’s corner, “coach your own athlete,” he said.  Dvalishvili began pressuring O’Malley.  O’Malley landed his jab and continued to target the body of Dvalishvili.  

O’Malley stepped in with a left hand.  Dvalishvili went for a takedown and got it with two minutes left in the round.  O’Malley got back to his feet and Dvalishvili delivered knees to the legs of O’Malley.  O’Malley spun free and separated.  Dvalishvili landed a right hand and closed the distance to take O’Malley down. O’Malley got to his feet but Dvalishvili applied a guillotine choke.  O’Malley isolated an arm and go to his feet.  He pushed Dvalishvili away.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Dvalishvili.  

O’Malley took the center of the cage to start the second round.  Dvalishvili bounced on the outside.  O’Malley landed to the body with a right hand.  He continued to target the body of Dvalishvili.  O’Malley’s output slowed.  Dvalishvili secured a takedown midway through the round.  O’Malley applied a triangle choke and Herb Dean stepped in because O’Malley grabbed Dvalishvili’s glove.  The were returned to the previous position and the fight restarted.  Dvalishvili delivered right hands.  O’Malley turned and tried to stand but Dvalishvili stayed on him delivering knees to the thigh of O’Malley.  Dvalishvili kissed O’Malley and O’Mallyl punched him after the bell.  Herb Deal told Dvalishvili that he caused it.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Dvalishvili.  

Dvalishvili bounced along the outside to start the third.  O’Malley landed to the body with a right hand.  He continued to attack the body.  O’Malley’s output had really slowed.  Dvalishvili closed the distance and smothered O’Malley along the cage while delivering knees to O’Malley’s legs.  O’Malley escaped the position and circled free.  O’Malley delivered a knee to the body.  Dvalishvili missed with a counter right.  Dvalishvili ate a right hand as he closed the distance late in the round.  O’Malley landed a left hand followed by a knee to the body.  It was O’Malley’s best round but MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for Dvalishvili.  

O’Malley continued to target Dvalishvili’s body in the fourth.  O’Malley landed his jab.  Dvalishvili walked into a right hand.  He quickly changed levels and took O’Malley down.  O’Malley landed an elbow from the bottom.  Dvalishvili delivered short punches to the body.  Dvalishvili connected with a couple of elbows.  O’Malley rolled to his knees and stood.  Dvalishvili kept the pressure on and put him back on the canvas.  He delivered short punches to the body.  Dvalishvili opened up with punches and O’Malley stood.  The round ended.  MMAWeekly scored the frame 10-9 for Dvalishvili.  

Heading into the final round, O’Malley needed a finish to win.  Dvalishvili moved along the outside while O’Malley inched forward.  Not a lot of action in the beginning of the fifth.  Dvalishvili landed a right hand and changed levels and took O’Malley down.  O’Malley got to a knee but Dvalishvili delivered knees to the thigh of O’Malley.  O’Malley stood and Dvalishvili backed away at the midway mark in the round.  

Dvalishvili briefly looked for a takedown but O’Malley shook off the attempt.  O’Malley landed a front kick to the body that may have hurt Dvalishvili.  O’Malley delivered a back kick to the body.  O’Malley landed two front kicks to the body.  O’Malley pressed Dvalishvili in the closing seconds.  He landed a right hand.  Dvalishvili secured a takedown in the final seconds.   

The judges scored the fight for Dvalishvili via unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47.