UFC 316 will showcase the rematch between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. Their first fight was close, with ‘The Machine’ showing dominance but not fully in control. Heading into the rematch, Merab admits he held back last time and won’t make that mistake again. The Georgian fighter promises to be stronger, more focused, and far more dominant this time around. So it seems the champion will put on a more aggressive and decisive performance in the upcoming fight.
Talking to The Schmo, ‘The Machine’ claims he held back during his first fight with Sean O’Malley, but he’s approaching the rematch with a completely different mindset. This time, he’s aiming for a decisive finish. In their first encounter, Dvalishvili admitted he was relaxed, even playful, showboating and not taking things as seriously. Now, he says the games are over. He’s locked in, motivated, and ready to end the fight in dominant fashion.
“I have extra motivation to finish this fight, because first fight I was going easy on him. But this time I’m looking for finish… I was laughing, I was showboating, I was kissing him…I already kissed him. Now it’s time to smash him,” he said.
To achieve this, Merab Dvalishvili has developed a solid game plan that he didn’t fully implement in their first fight. He intends to be more aggressive and precise, cutting off the cage better and maintaining constant pressure. This time, he plans to control the pace and limit O’Malley’s space to strike.
Merab Dvalishvili Plans To Go All Out In Striking Against Sean O’Malley If Wrestling Fails
The champ knows O’Malley shut down his takedowns in their first fight. For the rematch, if those takedowns get stopped again, Dvalishvili is ready to stand and trade strikes. He welcomes the challenge of facing one of the division’s top strikers head-on. Confident and motivated, he’s preparing for a stronger O’Malley but is determined to finish the fight this time.
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On the other hand, Sean O’Malley has clearly put in the work on his wrestling and appears to have a deeper arsenal this time around. With improvements in his ground game and striking variety, he’s coming in as a more complete fighter. All signs point to a more intense and well-rounded battle between him and Dvalishvili at UFC 316.
Also Read: Sean O’Malley Oozes Confidence As He Vows To ‘Break’ Merab Dvalishvili
