Merab Dvalishvili possesses a unique ability to demoralize his opponents. While often attributed to his relentless pace and superior conditioning, his head coach, John Wood, believes something else entirely led to Sean O’Malley’s unraveling at UFC 316.
Following a decision victory in their first meeting last September, Dvalishvili topped that performance in the rematch by securing an impressive third-round submission via a nasty choke. Though Merab`s wrestling and grappling were prominent, Wood noticed a shift in O’Malley’s demeanor much earlier, even during their striking exchanges.
“I genuinely believe a knockout was within reach,” Wood told MMA Fighting. “Perhaps not everyone saw it, but Merab was landing effectively and rocked him a couple of times. Our goal is always to finish the fight by any means necessary, but winning is the priority. However, considering Merab`s capabilities, I’m confident he could have finished his last three opponents.”
Wood explained that there are moments in fights where a competitor mentally “breaks” and no longer wants to continue. This state, whether conscious or subconscious, can lead them to make errors that create opportunities for the finish.
So, when exactly did O’Malley hit this breaking point in their second bout?
While a few moments stood out, Wood pinpointed the critical juncture: when Dvalishvili bypassed O’Malley’s takedown defense, hoisted him into the air, and forcefully slammed him back down in the center of the cage.
After their initial fight, O’Malley cited a hip injury as a hindrance to his grappling preparation. He had no such excuse this time. Despite acknowledging O`Malley`s improvements, Wood remains certain that the impact of that slam had a significant physical and mental toll.
“I think that takedown was the beginning of his decline,” Wood stated. “Even in the first round, we had success. I told Merab throughout camp, there would be a moment early on where O’Malley would think, ‘Oh man, this feels eerily similar to the first time, but worse.’ I believe that feeling settled in after the first round.”
Wood elaborated, “When another man picks you up like a child, carries you, and throws you down, and it feels like nothing you`re doing is working, it`s impossible not to be affected. Merab simply has Sean’s number. Sometimes styles just match up that way in fighting.”
Leading up to the rematch, Wood had repeatedly stated his expectation for Dvalishvili to seek a finish. Consequently, he wasn`t surprised when the Georgian phenom secured the third-round choke to defeat O’Malley.
As impressive as that finish was, Wood promises it`s just the start of Merab showcasing his ability to stop opponents, predicting O’Malley is merely the first of many.
“Mark my words, that won’t be the last submission,” Wood declared. “There will be knockouts and TKOs too. He’s still improving rapidly. Sean did better in the rematch; he defended takedowns in the first fight and performed better later in the rounds. My job as a coach is to anticipate what they’ll try to improve in a rematch and adjust our strategy, timing, and approach accordingly, and it worked perfectly.”
“Merab is truly special. People are only now beginning to fully grasp that. His timing, his fight IQ, his ability to listen and absorb information – he’s unique. He can adapt to anyone at any moment. He figures things out, processes the information, and implements it immediately, even amidst the chaos of a fight.”
With two victories over O’Malley, including a decisive finish, Dvalishvili is now moving forward to pursue new challenges in the bantamweight division.
Fighters like Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista are likely high on the list of potential contenders Merab hasn`t faced yet, but Dvalishvili remains open to rematches if the UFC decides they are the right path.
Considering the current landscape at bantamweight, Wood expects Dvalishvili to focus on fresh opponents, putting O’Malley behind him. However, he acknowledges the possibility, driven by UFC`s business model, that a third fight could happen down the line.
“In a purely realistic sporting sense, I’d say we won’t see that fight again soon,” Wood commented on a potential trilogy. “However, in the realm of the UFC, a fighter’s momentum and marketability can change everything. If O’Malley gets a couple of knockout wins, everyone will jump back on his bandwagon. He might even revisit past losses, maybe claiming an injury from the second Merab fight. That’s how things work after one or two more impressive wins.”
“If the UFC sees potential for significant profit and their marketing machine can capitalize on it, they`ll make it happen. The UFC isn`t strictly about the next best ranked guy fighting the champion. So, yes, I do see a potential for Sean to be back in the title mix after some time.”
What would O’Malley realistically need to accomplish to justify a third bout against Dvalishvili?
Wood believes it`s a considerable ascent up the bantamweight ranks, requiring O`Malley to overcome elite competition. While he doesn`t count O`Malley out entirely, Wood stresses that the likelihood of that fight happening again any time soon is minimal.
“I don’t anticipate Sean being the immediate next contender for a while,” Wood stated. “There are other strong contenders. He would need to face and convincingly beat a series of top-tier opponents to climb back. As for moving up to 145 pounds, those fighters are typically bigger. O’Malley has reach, but his frame doesn’t seem built for adding significant muscle from what I see. That might not be the smartest move.”
“But I think there are good matchups for him at 135 pounds that he can win. He should focus on getting a couple more victories there and then make that decision about his future path. He’s clearly a very talented and popular fighter that people want to watch.”
