Fight IQ of Sean O’Malley will decide title defense against Merab Dvalishvili, says Tom Aspinall

Sean O’Malley 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 O’Malley, is on the line. As such, UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall recently expressed his admiration for Sean O’Malley. Here is what happened:

Tom Aspinall did an interview on TNT Sports. During their discussion, the Brit highlighted the bantamweight champion’s calmness under pressure. Aspinall pointed out that Sean O’Malley‘s ability to stay relaxed, even during a high-pressure environment, allows him to make smart decisions at critical moments. 

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 ‘Suga’ 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 O’Malley out inside the octagon. 

The buildup to this fight has been a little quirky. This isn’t 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.

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Alexander Volkanovski predicts Merab Dvalishvili to win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306

Alexander Volkanovski recently gave his prediction for the UFC 306 bout between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. On his YouTube channel, Volkanovski acknowledged O’Malley’s elite striking ability, highlighting his precision and effectiveness in previous fights. O’Malley’s movement and ability to scramble on the ground makes him a dangerous opponent on his feet.

However, Volkanovski pointed out that Dvalishvili’s grappling and pressure game could be a major challenge for O’Malley. Dvalishvili has a reputation for tireless takedown attempts and overwhelming opponents with constant pressure. Volkanovski believes that no matter how good O’Malley’s footwork is, he will struggle to keep Dvalishvili off him unless he can land a knockout punch. 

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Is (Dvalishvili) gonna be open to being hit, yes I believe so... I don’t care how good your footwork is, you’re not gonna keep Merab away from you unless you put his lights out, that’s the only way that you don’t get taken down.

ALexander Volkanovski on his YouTube channel

Volkanovski concluded that Dvalishvili will likely wear O’Malley down. He predicted a decision victory for the Georgian if the fight went the full distance. Can O’Malley’s striking can counter Dvalishvili’s grappling pressure? Only time will tell. 

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