Sean OโMalley and Merab Dvalishvili are just a few days away from putting on a spectacle this Mexican Independence Day at UFC 306. It is a high-stakes matchup as the UFC bantamweight title, currently held by Sean OโMalley, is on the line. As such, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently expressed his admiration for Sean OโMalley. Here is what happened:
Tom Aspinall did an interview on TNT Sports. During their discussion, the Brit highlighted the bantamweight championโs calmness under pressure. Aspinall pointed out that Sean OโMalleyโs ability to stay relaxed, even during a high-pressure environment, allows him to make smart decisions at critical moments.ย
Sean’s fight IQ, in my opinion, that’s what it comes down to. As I said before with Sean, he makes split-second decisions under massive pressure really, really well and he stays really, really calm
Tom Aspinall on TNT Sports
This level of composure in the octagon is what Aspinall respects the most. He emphasized how challenging it is to perform well when dealing with intense pressure. Especially, against an opponent like Merab Dvalishvili whom Aspinall highlighted as an all-out brawler. The Brit said that he would not be surprised if the Georgian went in and just wrestled โSugaโ for five rounds.
Interestingly, Merab Dvalishvili has not lost a fight since 2018. He is currently riding a ten-fight winning streak and has won all of his fights, but one, via unanimous decision. Dvalishvili did previously mention that he had been working on his striking and would not be surprised if he knocked OโMalley out inside the octagon.ย
The buildup to this fight has been a little quirky. This isnโt a big surprise, since both stars have outlandish and flamboyant personalities. They have often taken to social media skits to mock each other, which fans have thoroughly enjoyed. It might not be the most intense rivalry but certainly is an entertaining one.
Alexander Volkanovski predicts Merab Dvalishvili to win over Sean OโMalley at UFC 306
Alexander Volkanovski recently gave his prediction for the UFC 306 bout between Sean OโMalley and Merab Dvalishvili. On his YouTube channel, Volkanovski acknowledged OโMalleyโs elite striking ability, highlighting his precision and effectiveness in previous fights. OโMalleyโs movement and ability to scramble on the ground makes him a dangerous opponent on his feet.
However, Volkanovski pointed out that Dvalishviliโs grappling and pressure game could be a major challenge for OโMalley. Dvalishvili has a reputation for tireless takedown attempts and overwhelming opponents with constant pressure. Volkanovski believes that no matter how good OโMalleyโs footwork is, he will struggle to keep Dvalishvili off him unless he can land a knockout punch.ย
Is (Dvalishvili) gonna be open to being hit, yes I believe so… I donโt care how good your footwork is, youโre not gonna keep Merab away from you unless you put his lights out, thatโs the only way that you donโt get taken down.
ALexander Volkanovski on his YouTube channel
Volkanovski concluded that Dvalishvili will likely wear OโMalley down. He predicted a decision victory for the Georgian if the fight went the full distance. Can OโMalleyโs striking can counter Dvalishviliโs grappling pressure? Only time will tell.ย