Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC champion, anticipates Sean O’Malley will secure a knockout win against Aiemann Zahabi on June 14. The highly anticipated bout is scheduled to take place on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Despite having faced O’Malley twice and handed him consecutive losses to dethrone him, Dvalishvili believes O’Malley possesses superior striking skills and will be able to defeat Zahabi. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Dvalishvili shared his insights on the upcoming fight. He expressed that Zahabi, a Canadian fighter with a seven-fight win streak, may not have sufficient wrestling ability to overpower O’Malley. Consequently, Dvalishvili predicts O’Malley will finish the fight by knockout on June 14.
“I like Zahabi, but of course I’m rooting for Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili stated. “I think Sean O’Malley will win this fight because he has good knockout power. I love him, and now I love him 10 times more… The only heartbreaking moment was his win against my friend Aljamain Sterling.”
Dvalishvili and O’Malley share a bond of mutual respect, maintaining a professional distance between their personal relationship and their competitive careers.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili is slated for a rematch against the current two-time bantamweight champion, Petr Yan, later this year. Yan previously defeated Dvalishvili at UFC 323. The UFC has confirmed an immediate rematch for Dvalishvili once Yan is medically cleared to compete following his recent back surgery, aiming to settle their trilogy, which is currently tied at 1-1.
English Translation and Rephrased Content:
Former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili has voiced his prediction for the upcoming clash between Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi on June 14, forecasting a knockout win for O’Malley.
The highly anticipated fight between O’Malley and Zahabi is set to be a notable event on the South Lawn of the White House, as part of the UFC Freedom 250 fight card.
Even though Dvalishvili has faced O’Malley twice, resulting in two losses for “Suga” and the loss of his title, “The Machine” still holds the belief that O’Malley’s striking prowess will be too much for Zahabi. Dvalishvili stated in a recent interview with Ariel Helwani that he believes Zahabi, a 38-year-old Canadian currently on a seven-fight winning streak, lacks the necessary wrestling skills to control O’Malley, unlike how Dvalishvili himself did in their previous encounters. Therefore, Dvalishvili anticipates O’Malley will secure a decisive knockout victory on June 14.
Dvalishvili expressed his support for O’Malley, despite acknowledging Zahabi’s qualities: “I like Zahabi, but of course I’m rooting for Sean O’Malley. I think Sean O’Malley will win this fight because he has good knockout power. I love him, and now I love him 10 times more… The only heartbreaking moment was his win against my friend Aljamain Sterling.”
A respectful rivalry exists between Dvalishvili and O’Malley, with both fighters adept at separating their professional competition from their personal bond.
Looking ahead, the 35-year-old Georgian fighter is expected to face Petr Yan, the current two-time bantamweight champion, for a rematch later this year. Yan had previously unseated Dvalishvili last year at UFC 323, during Dvalishvili’s attempt to become the first UFC champion to achieve four successful title defenses within a single year. Following Dvalishvili’s title loss, the UFC has committed to an immediate rematch. Once Yan receives medical clearance to compete after undergoing back surgery earlier this year, the two fighters will meet for a third time to conclude their trilogy, which is currently tied at one win apiece.
