UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady has come to a close, and next week, The Sphere will host UFC 306 with Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili headlining the event. Fans are eagerly anticipating the spectacle promised by Dana White.
The upcoming UFC bantamweight title match between O’Malley and Dvalishvili is a tough one to predict. Both fighters excel in different styles and have seen success in their respective careers.
UFC analyst Din Thomas believes that the main event at UFC 306 will be one-sided, with little chance of a prolonged battle.
Din Thomas Believes Sean O’Malley Is A Tougher Opponent For Merab Dvalishvili Than Aljamain Sterling
Karyn Brant, Paul Felder, and Thomas discussed the upcoming UFC 306 event on the UFC Fight Night Post Show on ESPN MMA.
Felder is particularly excited for the main event due to the history between O’Malley and Dvalishvili. Their rivalry has been filled with memorable moments, from Dvalishvili taking O’Malley’s jacket in the Octagon to O’Malley unknowingly filming Dvalishvili training in the rain.
Felder highlighted the challenger’s relentless pressure and the champion’s precise counter-striking as factors that make this fight unpredictable. Thomas added that the fighter who establishes dominance early on will likely secure the victory.
Thomas emphasized that the initial rounds of the UFC 306 main event will set the tone for the entire fight. If Dvalishvili can control O’Malley early, he is likely to maintain that control throughout the fight. On the other hand, if O’Malley finds his rhythm quickly, he will be able to pick apart Dvalishvili from a distance.
“I think we’re going to know right away. I think if Merab is able to get his hands on Sean early, then I think that’s going to tell the entire story of the fight.”
Thomas also noted that Dvalishvili is shorter than former champ Aljamain Sterling and tends to take more hits. He stressed the importance for Dvalishvili to figure out how to deal with O’Malley’s precise striking in order to come out victorious.
“As sharp as Sean O’Malley is, like that shot that he hit Aljamain Sterling with, that right hand.. just eagle eyed him. Just bang, Merab is more susceptible to getting hit than Aljamain and he’s shorter and he’s going to have a harder time getting in. So, Merab to me, this comes down to what is Merab doing in training to be able to deal with that length.”
