Merab Dvalishvili submitted Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 and defended his championship belt

Merab Dvalishvili submitted Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 and thus defended the UFC’s bantamweight championship belt.

Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley met in the evening fight of the UFC 316 gala in Newark. It was a rematch of the fighters. At stake in the clash was the UFC championship belt in the bantamweight category. The Georgian was the favorite of the second fight with the American.

Merab Dvalishvili between fights with Sean managed to score a winning skirmish with Umar Nurmagomedov. O’Malley did not fight during this time as he was recovering from surgery and rehabilitation.

Sean O’Malley started with a spinning attack. The American tries to keep the Georgian at a distance in the early stages of the fight. O’Malley works with straights and front kicks. Merab gets into the contender’s legs and brings the fight to the mat. Sean manages to get up and we have a clinch under the net. Merab continues to wrestle pressure and topples the American again. Strong elbow strikes from the top by the champion.

A great combination of punches performed by Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley responds with a long straight. Sean continues his attacks with kicks to the Georgian’s torso. Merab picks up the pace, hits with an extensive punch, however, he is not able to move the duel to the mat. Another attempt to enter the legs however O’Malley escapes nicely to the side. Sean hits with a left straight. The champion shortens the distance, hits and tries to overthrow. Another good defense by the American. O’Malley hits after breaking the clinch. Offensive action by the Georgian at the end of the second period.

Good counter by O’Malley at the beginning of the third round however after a while Merab Dvalishvili successfully brings down his rival. The Georgian works ground and pound from the top. The champion controls the duel and attacks with elbows. Merab hits a knee on the ground. O’Malley tries to get up under the net however Dvalishvili quickly overthrows again. The American gets up momentarily and once again lands on his back after successfully bringing down the champion. Beautiful action by Dvalishvili, who clipped a guillotine. O’Malley tried to wriggle out, however, he made it easier to pin the choke with this and quickly taped out. Merab Dvalishvili submitted Sean O’Malley in the third round.