LAS VEGAS – Sean O’Malley, one of the UFC’s biggest stars, lost his belt this past Saturday against Merab Dvalishvili.
The UFC bantamweight title changed hands in the main event of UFC 306, as Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dominated O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to win a unanimous decision. Although Dvlashvili was a formidable threat on paper, UFC CEO Dana White didn’t think O’Malley looked himself at Noche UFC.
“He looked flat. He didn’t look sharp. He didn’t look crisp until the last round,” White said at the UFC 306 post-fight press conference. “He hurt him with that body shot. He knew he hurt him with the body shot and kept going, trying to finish. I looked at the punch stats and there were like six in a couple of rounds.”
White isn’t sure what happened with O’Malley, beyond Dvalishvili putting on a strong performance. When asked if maybe the magnitude of the event got to him, White was quick to shut down that theory.
“I don’t know the answer to that question, but I think he’s one of those kids that lives for moments like this,” White said. “This is what he’s about. He’s that guy. I don’t know if he just got in there tonight and felt flat. Some nights, it’s just is what it is.”
There were a few strange moments in the main event title fight. For starters, Dvalishvili was warned by the referee and had the fight halted for arguing mid-fight with O’Malley’s corner. Dvalishvili also appeared to kiss O’Malley’s back and then walk away with a few seconds remaining of the fight, which allowed O’Malley to swing at him from behind.
White thought it was a strange fight all-together.
“Merab and O’Malley’s corner were screaming at each other the whole beginning of the fight,” White said. “They were yelling at each other back and forth, and herb dean stepped in and told them to knock it off. Then the kiss on the back and stepping away before the bell, that I have no idea. Merab does some sh*t. It was weird, but not shocking.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.
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