NEWARK, N.J. – Merab Dvalishvili is a “Machine.”
In the UFC 316 main event, Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defeated Sean O’Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) even more emphatically than he did the first time the two fought, as he retained his title via North-South neck crank. The stoppage came at 4:42 of Round 3.
Dvalishvili found success in the opening round, as he relied on his signature relentless pace and aggression. O’Malley tried his best to fend off takedown attempts, but they came repeatedly at him. Dvalishvili mixed in his striking in the clinch and on the ground.
In Round 2, O’Malley found increasing success. In one particular sequence he cracked Dvalishvili with a hard left hand on the break. But Dvalishvili kept moving forward. The round ended with a crazy spinning sequence from both fighters, who somehow ended up tied up with one another when the bell sounded. The crowd let them know their appreciation.
Round 3 saw Dvalishvili drag O’Malley down. Just as the crowd became restless, Dvalishvili shifted into North-South position, grabbed hold, and cranked. Then came the tap.
After the fight, Dvalishvili indicated Cory Sandhagen should be his next challenger. Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) has won four of his most recent five outings with the only loss to Umar Nurmagomedov.
Dvalishvili, 34, successfully defends his title for the second time since he won it from O’Malley in September. He defended the strap vs. Nurmagomedov in January, which made Saturday’s fight his third title fight in nine months.
Prior to UFC 316, O’Malley hadn’t competed since the initial meeting with Dvalishvili. Between the fights, he took time off to surgically repair a torn labrum and focus on fatherhood.
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