Merab Dvalishvili fights atop the Noche UFC (UFC 306) pay-per-view soon, from inside the Las Vegas ‘Sphere’. More than the one-time brand event, this has a lot of deeper implications for the Georgian. ‘Mean Machine’ Dvalishvili finally has his chance to challenge 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley for the gold. A week removed from his title showdown, Dvalishvili faces his toughest challenge yet. No, not fight jitters – Staph!
The MMA community went on high alert when the title challenger appeared in pre-fight photo ops 11 days out. His left arm seemingly had a Staph infection in an IG post. Merab Dvalishvili insisted he was all good. However, that did not stop an impromptu check from a UFC doctor in the middle of a pre-fight media availability for New York Post Sports. Around the 3:20 mark, the video shows a time-lapse of Dvalishvili being given a check-up, even taking off his shirt to show the doctors his arm.
I’m sorry my friend, UFC doctor just checking me out, …They was like … looking at this, I have nothing. They thought I had something but I’m good…I take a picture and a lot of people comment, they was thinking I have Staph inspection, but I’m good, I don’t have nothing. There is no Staph infection.
Merab Davalishvili to Scott Fontana
Staph is no new thing to plague MMA fighters. Recent top-bill combatants like Jiri Prochazka, Benoit Saint-Denis, or Islam Makhachev have divulged battling it during their last outings. The top-flight Dvalishvili is a prime wrestler and could have easily gotten infected during one of his exchanges. However, the Serra-Longo Fight Team fighter says otherwise. He assured that the UFC 306 feature main event was not at risk.
The words “anti-fungal” were mentioned, but the exact cause of the injury was unavailable. This only adds to yet another open injury – the laceration he posted on social media. While a stitched-up Dvalishvili seemed fine and said he had healed, the risk of open injuries in contact sports remains as viable as ever. Moreover, Sean O’Malley is keeping violent intentions with all the open wounds around.
Sean O’Malley to definitely target Merab Dvalishvili’s cut at UFC 306
The UFC 306 pay-per-view (PPV) card, or rebranded Riyadh Season Noche UFC for September 14, 2024, already has one backup championship fighter. When Alexa Grasso defends against Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event. However, despite two open wounds, title challenger Merab Dvalishvili remains as full of life as ever. Well…not if Sean O’Malley has something to say about it,
Sean O’Malley keeping violent options for Noche UFC clash (Source: es.agfight.com/X)The No. 1-ranked 135-pound contender Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) suffered a cut above his left eyelid in training. Then, he made the foolhardy choice to post it on socials. In a move that left UFC CEO Dana White scratching his head, Dvalishvili had the laceration stitched up and even removed the stitches himself. Now, more likely than ever, the wound is surely to become a target for ‘Suga Show’.
I am 100 percent going to open up that cut, whether it’s healed or not, …I don’t know how much it can heal. I’ve never really had any bad cuts so I’m not sure really – but I’m going to…That’s the left side of his face and this right hand doesn’t miss…probably accidentally hit his nose before I hit that cut, that nose just kind of takes up like 85 percent of his face. So, I’m going to try and get around his nose and get to that cut.
Sean O’Malley to veteran combat sports columnist Kevin Iole (@KevinIole)
Going into the promotion’s second annual Noche UFC card, O’Malley means to live up to his violent record. A record that won him the 2024 ESPY for Best UFC Fighter Award after his Miami maiden defense. So if the 33-year-old’s nose gets in the way of his logging straight shots, he’ll veer to the cut, for sure. As such, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it’s all fighters for themselves.
