In the brutal and wild world of MMA, what’s the constant? Is it the aggression? We think one of the greatest factors for its success has been its unpredictability. Comfort is a rare privilege in the sport, and fighters who make their way from faraway lands to the USA reach the country after leaving their homes behind. Similarly, in the case of Merab Dvalishvili, a fighter from Georgia, after settling in New Jersey, he found a new home. Now he will return to the city as the UFC bantamweight champion, where he will take on Sean O’Malley in a rematch at UFC 316. Heading into the UFC 316 main event, an evolved Dvalishvili is glad that he’s fighting in New Jersey.
Famously known as ‘The Machine,’ he has built himself quite a reputation in the UFC. He captured the 135-pound gold after beating O’Malley in their first clash at UFC 306, where Dvalishvili had dominated ‘Suga’ for a unanimous decision victory. Following this came his first title defence at UFC 311, where the Georgian put on a similar performance and beat Umar Nurmagomedov.
And as he sat down with ESPN MMA and Anthony Smith to discuss his clash against O’Malley, Dvalishvili revealed he had to pick between fighting in April and in June. And for one reason, wanting his opponent to recover optimally and be at his best was the first reason Dvalishvili chose June. Yet, the more important reason was that UFC 319 was being held in New Jersey.
Merab Dvalishvili revealed, “After I beat Umar, UFC called me and asked me if uh I want to fight either in April like which is here in Miami, or June in New Jersey. And I say yes to June in New Jersey because two reason. First reason, this way Sean has more time to recovery. And the second reason is New Jersey is like, it’s going to be like my home because I used to live in NewYork, is to training there.”
He further added, “I still represent my Solongo team and lots of Georgian community lives in New York, New Jersey, Pilerpie area. And it’s going to be like my home and all my teammates and all my country people will be there and cheering for me and supporting me.” So with the home advantage on his side, can Dvalishvili beat O’Malley in a similar fashion again?
September 14, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: SEAN OÃââ MALLEY and MERAB DVALISHVILI fight in their 5-round Bantamweight Title Main Event at UFC 306 Riyadh Season Noche UFC at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Las Vegas USA – ZUMAs346 20240914_zsp_s346_014 Copyright: xAlejandroxSalazarx
But O’Malley is preparing to be at his very best as well. From changing his training methods to his whole lifestyle, there’s nothing that O’Malley has left unchecked. And this will be his minimum requirement for this rematch. He has to not only avoid the whole humiliation from the previous fight but also leave his own highlight attached as the conclusion of this fight.
Sean O’Malley comes prepared for UFC 316 with a character and strategic overhaul
As Sean O’Malley has begun preparing for his highly anticipated rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, he’s implemented a comprehensive transformation in both his personal life and training regimen. He is determined to reclaim the bantamweight title. O’Malley has made significant lifestyle adjustments and sought guidance from MMA legends to enhance his performance.
In a candid revelation, O’Malley shared that he’s taken substantial steps to eliminate distractions that previously hindered his focus. He revealed, “I decided in 2025 I’m done with social media. I don’t get on social media, and I feel like that’s changed my life. It’s only been three months, but I literally feel like it’s changed my life, and I feel like that’s going to play a role in my performance.
To address the challenges posed by Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling, O’Malley called for the expertise of former UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. Johnson, renowned for his grappling prowess, is helping O’Malley in perfecting his clinch work and ground game. Additionally, O’Malley has trained with former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya. Their sessions at MMA Lab in Arizona focused on enhancing O’Malley’s striking and movement strategies, aiming to counter Dvalishvili’s pressure-heavy approach. The question is, what if it all goes to waste?
Dvalishvili is also preparing for a war. Both know the stakes are quite higher this time than in their last bout. And both ‘The Machine’ and ‘Suga Show’ will deliver fireworks at UFC 316. Who are you picking for their rematch? Let us know in the comments.
The post Merab Dvalishvili Claims New Jersey ‘Home Advantage’ as 2 Reasons For Giving Sean O’Malley UFC 316 Lifeline Revealed appeared first on EssentiallySports.