Merab Dvalishvili has an uncanny capability to interrupt his opponent’s will and that normally occurs together with his relentless stress and continuous conditioning however his head coach doesn’t consider that’s what led to Sean O’Malley’s downfall at UFC 316.
After beating O’Malley by choice of their first encounter this previous September, the UFC’s reigning bantamweight champion one way or the other managed to high himself within the rematch with a powerful third-round end after snatching a nasty choke that ended the struggle. As soon as once more, Dvalishvili’s wrestling and grappling took heart stage however John Wooden believes he noticed O’Malley’s demeanor change even earlier within the struggle once they have been buying and selling pictures on the ft.
“I do consider that knockout was an choice,” Wooden advised MMA Preventing. “I don’t know if all people observed however he was touching him fairly good and rocked him a few instances. The objective once more is end nonetheless we will end. Win the struggle. The primary objective is to win the struggle. However the issues that Merab does and the issues that Merab brings to the desk and I caught a variety of shit the opposite day for saying I really consider we might have completed the final three fights. No drawback.
“There are moments in all these fights the place the individual, the fighter broke and so they didn’t wish to be there anymore. They do issues, whether or not it’s subconsciously or they’re seeing it, the place they don’t wish to be there and so they give choices and alternatives to get out of there.”
So when precisely did O’Malley break within the rematch?
Wooden says there have been a few moments that stood out to him however the true spotlight was when Dvalishvili acquired via O’Malley’s takedown protection, lifted him into the air and introduced him crashing again down once more within the heart of the cage.
O’Malley mentioned after the primary struggle ended {that a} hip harm prevented him from actually coaching his grappling earlier than dealing with Dvalishvili however he had nothing holding him again this time. Whereas Wooden offers O’Malley credit score for displaying enhancements, he is aware of that slam takedown from Dvalishvili needed to take a toll on him within the struggle.
“I believe that was the beginning of it,” Wooden mentioned concerning the takedown resulting in O’Malley’s demise. “I believe even in spherical one, there was some success the place I advised Merab all camp, there’s going to be a second actual fast when he will get on the market the place he goes ‘oh shit, this feels very oddly comparable however worse.’ I believe that occurred after the primary spherical.
“However sure, when one other man picks you up like a baby and carries you and throws you down and does no matter and it simply looks like nothing you’re doing is working, there’s simply no approach not really feel a sure approach. Merab’s simply acquired Sean’s quantity. That occurs generally in fights and kinds.”
Wooden said quite a few instances main as much as the rematch that he anticipated Dvalishvili to search for the end so he wasn’t in the slightest degree shocked that the Georgian fighter snatched that choke within the third spherical to place O’Malley away.
As spectacular as that was, Wooden guarantees that Dvalishvili is simply getting began with regards to displaying off his capability to place opponents away and he expects O’Malley was simply the primary of many to expertise that.
“Mark my phrases, this received’t be the primary and solely submission,” Wooden mentioned. “There will probably be knockouts. There will probably be TKO’s. He’s nonetheless getting higher and I believe that Sean did higher however Sean defended takedowns within the first one. Sean did issues later within the rounds within the first struggle and as a coach it’s my job to determine what in a rematch, what they assume they’re going to do higher and now we have to alter and regulate and alter these methods and alter these timings and it labored out completely.
“Merab is particular. Folks at the moment are beginning to understand that. His timing, his imaginative and prescient, the best way he listens and learns, he’s particular. So he can adapt to anybody at any cut-off date. He figures it out. He downloads and computes and he does it on the go. He does it in a chaotic, hectic method.”
With two wins over O’Malley and the second struggle ending in a end, Dvalishvili now strikes ahead together with his profession as he begins looking for out new challenges.
Fighters like Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista are most likely close to the highest of the record of potential contenders who’ve by no means fought the champion beforehand however Dvalishvili clearly isn’t against rematches if that’s what the UFC desires from him.
Given the lay of the land at bantamweight, Wooden expects Dvalishvili to concentrate on new goals whereas placing O’Malley in his rearview mirror however he doesn’t low cost the likelihood that the UFC would put that struggle collectively once more sooner or later.
“Within the realm of actuality, I’d say we’re not going to see it once more,” Wooden mentioned about Dvalishvili dealing with O’Malley for a 3rd time. “Within the realm of the UFC and them deciding a win modifications the whole lot. If O’Malley goes on the market and starches the subsequent man, all people’s going to leap again on the bandwagon … and he’ll come and so they would possibly say ‘after I fought Merab the second time … I’m not saying they’ve mentioned this however ‘I had an injured foot’ or [whatever] to perhaps get again. One or two extra knockouts, you know the way issues work.
“If the UFC sees that they’ll get behind it and their advertising machine and so they could make {dollars} and cents out of it, then they’ll do it. You aren’t within the enterprise of rankings of the perfect man ought to all the time struggle the subsequent finest man and the subsequent finest man ought to struggle the champion. That’s not the best way it goes. So I do see a possible of him being again within the combine after a while.”
What would O’Malley must do in an effort to justify a 3rd struggle towards Dvalishvili?
His coach believes that’s a large climb again up the bantamweight ladder however he doesn’t put it previous O’Malley — Wooden simply is aware of the possibilities of that struggle taking place once more any time quickly may be very unlikely.
“I don’t assume Sean goes to be the subsequent finest man for some time,” Wooden mentioned. “I believe there’s different guys. He must undergo a assassin’s row and beat all these guys fairly handily to get again. So so far as with him, [does he go to] 145 [pounds], these guys are huge and O’Malley does the scale and the vary however he’d must stack on some muscle. He doesn’t have a really huge body from what I see. So that may not be the neatest factor.
“However I believe there are some good fights for him that he can win at [135 pounds] after which determine it out from there. Go win a pair extra after which make that call. He’s clearly a really proficient fighter that individuals wish to watch.”
