(Video) 10,000+ fans SWARM streets of Georgia as countryman Merab Dvalishvili becomes champion at UFC 306
Watch: 10,000 Georgian fans celebrate Merab Dvalishvili's PPV bantamweight title win over Sean O'Malley in Noche UFC 306 main event.
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Video: 10,000 fans from Georgia celebrate Merab Dvalishvili's UFC 306 title victory at 7am (Source: Instagram/X)
Merab Dvalishvili scored the biggest win of his career on last night’s UFC 306 Noche card. He dominated Sean O’Malley for five rounds to capture the UFC 135-pound gold. As the fighter out of Georgia said in his post-fight speech – O’Malley is quite the superstar. But he just made him a tad bit more normal with his eccentric domination… And the fans out of his nation are here for it!
Ahead of his title bout, Giorgi Kokiashvili (@iHeartGeorgius1) of Setanta Sports posted a video of Georgians taking to the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia, at 7 am to watch him fight. When Merab Dvalishvili broke down in joy and disbelief to the veteran sounds of “And New“, some 10,000+ fans reveled on the street. The fighter was out on the jumbotron by the end of the night, receiving his new strap.
Dvalishvili finally took the bantamweight helm at the Noche UFC 306 PPV headliner. The Serra-Longo Fight Team sambo man started his UFC run on a 0-2 draught. However, he closed out the promotion’s historic debut event with a winning streak of 11 consecutive fights courtesy of a unanimous nod. Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) meanwhile, succumbed to his second loss.
It’s always amazing to see a country rally behind a fighter — it’s even more amazing to see them empathetic to wins. Georgia now has two champions, both capturing championship gold this calendar year. Alicante-Georgian Ilia Topuria won gold at the Anaheim UFC 298 PPV in February. Now, its close friend Dvalishvili on the rise. Subsequently, it’s not just his fans who have reacted to his win.
UFC 306: MMA Pro Twitter reacts to Merab Dvalishvili’s win
Throughout five rounds, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dominated Sean O’Malley at the Noche UFC 306 top bill. He took him down, knee-tucked, and battered away to a unanimous triumph (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to earn title gold. It had similar shades to the double-branded Noche feature co-mains. All-time dominant standout Valentina Shevchenko also won gold in a lopsided domination over Alexa Grasso.
Merab Dvalishvili was draped all over the champ for almost five rounds, teeing away bit by bit. With a machination worth of gas tank, ‘The Machine’ employed quite a pressure-creating wrestle pocket to dominate ‘Suga’.
His cardio and pace once again reinforced his justifiable nickname. O’Malley had a competitive third frame and a 5th one due to a body shot and part striking. But Dvalishvili just proved way better. Check below for the top ‘X’ rated MMA reactions from pundits and peers.
Most have lauded ‘Mean Machine’ Dvalishvili over the one-sided domination. The frustration, lack of takedown defense tactics, and the whole blowout were quite evident for all. Consequently, given this happened, the following also happened.
Henry Cejudo, Ben Askren, and Derek Brunson, as well as other industry standouts, had some similar inputs. 2024 ESPY for Best UFC Fighter Award recipient ended the ‘Suga Show’ after a maiden defense; O’Malley himself also had quite a humbling reaction to it all. Dvalishvili’s win accordingly will be one for history and another win for Georgia. Roman Dolidze and Guram Kutateladze next? Unlikely; perhaps maybe. Time will tell.
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