Merab Dvalishvili made good on his promise and delivered a dominant performance to defeat Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 on Saturday night at The Sphere in Las Vegas to claim the UFC bantamweight title. Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and superior ground control overwhelmed O’Malley, who struggled to find any rhythm throughout the bout.
From the opening bell, Dvalishvili executed his game plan with precision, applying constant pressure and chaining together takedowns that left O’Malley unable to establish his striking. With each passing round, Dvalishvili’s intensity only grew, while O’Malley became visibly frustrated as he struggled to escape from under Dvalishvili’s dominant grappling and top control. The Georgian fighter’s relentless style was a nightmare for O’Malley, who never had the chance to get into his usual flow.
A curious moment occurred at the beginning of the fight when tension boiled over between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s corner. The pre-fight buildup, already heated with verbal exchanges, spilled into the cage, prompting referee Herb Dean to issue a stern warning before the fight fully got underway.
Once the action resumed, it was clear that Dvalishvili was determined to make good on his promise to grind down O’Malley. His seamless transitions from striking to takedowns and his ability to maintain pressure left O’Malley constantly defending, never allowing the striker to mount any significant offense.
O’Malley tried to establish his attack from the outside, looking to pick his shots carefully, but his wariness of the takedown allowed Merab Dvalishvili to dominate the center of the octagon and pressure him relentlessly. This opened the door for Dvalishvili to secure his third takedown of the fight, planting O’Malley on the canvas once again and unloading a barrage of ground-and-pound from top position.
It wasn’t until the third round that O’Malley finally found some success with his striking. After fending off a couple of takedown attempts, he began landing stiff punches that momentarily shifted the momentum. He also threw a knee up the middle that caught Dvalishvili’s attention, signaling a brief turn in the tide.
However, just as O’Malley seemed to be settling into a rhythm on the feet, Dvalishvili once again demonstrated his impeccable timing with a beautifully executed takedown, returning the fight to the mat. Though O’Malley managed to land a sharp inside elbow that opened a cut on Dvalishvili’s face, the Georgian fighter remained undeterred. Dvalishvili continued to apply constant pressure from top control, peppering O’Malley with strikes while maintaining his dominant position.
Despite O’Malley’s efforts to turn the tide, Dvalishvili’s relentless pace and grinding wrestling kept him in control throughout the fight. By the later rounds, O’Malley appeared worn down, mentally and physically, as Dvalishvili continued to control the fight, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
The judges scored the fight 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 with Dvalishvili winning his 11th consecutive fight and becomes a UFC champion for the first time.
Valentina Shevchenko Reclaims Flyweight Title
Valentina Shevchenko defeated Alexa Grasso in a dominant performance, showcasing her superior striking and tactical precision. Shevchenko controlled the fight with sharp counterstrikes and well-timed takedowns, stifling Grasso’s attempts to mount any significant offense. Over the course of the fight, Shevchenko’s experience and skill set proved too much for Grasso, leading to a clear unanimous decision victory.
UFC 306: O’Malley vs Dvalishvili Results
- Merab Dvalishvili defeats Sean O’Malley by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
- Valentina Shevchenko defeats Alexa Grasso by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Diego Lopes defeats Brian Ortega by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
- Esteban Ribovics defeats Daniel Zellhuber by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ronaldo Rodríguez defeats Ode Osbourne by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27)
- Norma Dumont defeats Irene Aldana by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ignacio Bahamondes defeats Manuel Torres by TKO (strikes) at 4:02 of Round 1
- Ketlen Souza defeats Yazmin Jauregui by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of Round 1
- Joshua Van defeats Edgar Chairez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Raul Rosas Jr. defeats Aoriqileng by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
