Sean O’Malley Alerted Over ‘Trick’ Used by Merab Dvalishvili Ahead of Important UFC 316 Title Fight

Bantamweight title contender Sean O'Malley must be aware of Merab Dvalishvili's secret trick inside the octagon.

Sean O’Malley Alerted Over ‘Trick’ Used by Merab Dvalishvili Ahead of Important UFC 316 Title Fight

Merab Dvalishvili might use his sneaky tricks against Sean O'Malley (via Imago/X)

This weekend at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, the stage is perfectly set for the bantamweight title showdown. Challenger Sean O’Malley will take on Merab Dvalishvili in a rematch and looks extremely motivated to avenge his previous loss at Noche UFC. However, going into the fight, the ‘Machine’ remains the betting favorite and carries efficient tools to completely dismantle O’Malley again.

Both fighters are engaged in giving interviews and promoting the fight ahead of the fight, which has already received various backlash. Dvalishvili sat down with his close friend, training partner, and former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling for an in-depth interview session. During the conversation, the pair discussed various topics and Aljo revealed a specific habit Dvalishvili uses to trick opponents cleverly.

In training sometimes like we will hit Merab to the body and he’ll be like fake that he’s wrong and he would sell it. I remember the first time I saw him do it. He pretended that he’s hurt and face a made and his partner came right after him and then he just goes back (to striking).

Aljamain Sterling via his YouTube Channel

Many believe Dvalishvili used the same trick against O’Malley during their last fight’s fifth round after a body shot. However, this might just be a theory, and the champion could’ve genuinely been hurt by O’Malley’s powerful front body kicks.

So far, no one has tried to target the body of ‘The Machine’ with the intent to knock him out. Still, Dvalishvili admitted he often uses that trick and learned it by closely watching UFC heavyweight veteran Derrick Lewis perform it.

I was doing this in my sparring because I learned from Derrick Lewis. Remember when he was hurt and then he knocked Volkov (Alexander) out.

Merab Dvalishvili via Aljamain Sterling’s YT Channel

Nevertheless, that trick isn’t the only concern, as O’Malley was absolutely dominated by Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling and unmatched cardio. Dvalishvili enters the rematch extremely confident and is already looking past O’Malley without hesitation. It’ll be interesting to see whether ‘Suga’ can shock the world and pull off a dramatic upset in this rematch.

Sean O’Malley talks about avoiding social media ahead of the Merab Dvalishvili rematch

Sean O’Malley rose to fame not just by fighting, but by mastering internet culture and creating a unique online persona. He used platforms like YouTube and Instagram to post hilarious skits, engage with fans, and build a loyal following. O’Malley’s colorful hair, flashy style, and witty trash talk made him a standout personality, attracting attention beyond just hardcore MMA fans.

Sean O'Malley's Internet personality
Sean O’Malley’s Internet personality (via Instagram)

By merging entertainment with fighting, he built a brand that was heavily pushed by the promotion until UFC 306. However, ahead of the upcoming title rematch, O’Malley looks confident and has made several significant changes to his fight camp. One major change was staying away from social media, and he recently discussed this decision openly during an interview session.

I just felt like it was a little bit of a distraction. It was a little bit of an anxiety creator… there’s no reason I didn’t have more peace in my life when I have everything… Me getting off social media was kind of me seeking more peace throughout my life and it’s been life changing. I really do feel like being off of that has changed my life in a better way as far as not feeling like I’m so connected with the world and seeing everyone’s issues.

Sean O’Malley via Demetrious Johnson YT Channel

On top of that, he recently fixed his hip, which allegedly impacted his overall performance against Merab Dvalishvili in their first bout. He was also seen training his ground game with veteran legend Demetrious Johnson and sparring hard with Israel Adesanya recently. O’Malley is a knockout artist who can definitely finish Dvalishvili anytime with his one-punch knockout power, but can he do it is the question.

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