Merab Dvalishvili’s coach believes the UFC bantamweight champion broke Sean O’Malley during their fight at UFC 316 last Saturday.
Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) defeated O’Malley for the second time to successfully defend the title he claimed from "Suga" at UFC 306 last September. By submitting O’Malley, “The Machine” earned his first finish inside the Octagon in nearly four years. According to his coach, John Wood of Syndicate MMA, the damage Dvalishvili inflicted during the striking exchanges played a crucial role in wearing the challenger down.
“I do believe that knockout was an option,” Wood said during an interview this week with MMA Fighting. “I don’t know if everybody noticed but he was touching him pretty good and rocked him a couple of times. The goal again is finish however we can finish. Win the fight. The first goal is to win the fight. But the things that Merab does and the things that Merab brings to the table and I caught a lot of shit the other day for saying I truly believe we could have finished the last three fights. No problem.
“There are moments in all those fights where the person, the fighter broke and they didn’t want to be there anymore. They do things, whether it’s subconsciously or they’re seeing it, where they don’t want to be there and they give options and opportunities to get out of there.”
Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling was a key factor in his title win over O’Malley at UFC 306 last September, and it was on full display again last Saturday. He carried the former champion across the Octagon on his shoulder before slamming him to the canvas and ultimately submitting him.
“I think that was the start of it,” Wood said about the takedown leading to O’Malley’s demise. “I think even in round one, there was some success where I told Merab all camp, there’s going to be a moment real quick when he gets out there where he goes ‘oh shit, this feels very oddly similar but worse.’ I think that happened after the first round.
“But yes, when another man picks you up like a child and carries you and throws you down and does whatever and it just seems like nothing you’re doing is working, there’s just no way not feel a certain way. Merab’s just got Sean’s number. That happens sometimes in fights and styles.”
After losing his first two fights upon signing with the UFC in 2020, Dvalishvili has now won thirteen straight bouts—second only to Islam Makhachev (14) for the longest active winning streak. Despite being 34 years old, coach John Wood believes the champion is still improving and has yet to reach his full potential inside the Octagon.
“Mark my words, this won’t be the first and only submission,” Wood said. “There will be knockouts. There will be TKO’s. He’s still getting better and I think that Sean did better but Sean defended takedowns in the first one. Sean did things later in the rounds in the first fight and as a coach it’s my job to figure out what in a rematch, what they think they’re going to do better and we have to change and adjust and change those strategies and change those timings and it worked out perfectly.
“Merab is special. People are now starting to realize that. His timing, his vision, the way he listens and learns, he’s special. So he can adapt to anyone at any point in time. He figures it out. He downloads and computes and he does it on the go. He does it in a chaotic, hectic manner.”
