Dvalishvili discussed the disagreement with trainer O' Malley
In the upcoming UFC 306 Noche on September 14, Merab "Machine" Dvalishvili will challenge for the UFC Bantamweight title against Sean "Sugar" O'Malley. However, the build-up to this highly anticipated fight has been marred by a heated rivalry between Dvalishvili and O'Malley's coach, Tim Welch.
Recent reports suggest that Welch has been making disrespectful comments about Dvalishvili's height and nose. Dvalishvili, who is currently the leader in the UFC Bantamweight division with a 10-fight winning streak, has responded by calling Welch a "snake" and expressing his desire to give Welch a punch in the face.
Dvalishvili's recent opponents have included renowned fighters such as Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo. In his last three fights, he has emerged victorious unanimously, capturing the UFC Bantamweight Championship with a win over Sean O'Malley and defending it against him in a rematch.
O'Malley, on the other hand, has been focused on other matchups and has expressed admiration for other fighters like Ilia Topuria. The history of disrespectful comments and behavior between Dvalishvili's coach and O'Malley's coach leading up to their UFC title fights could not be found in available sources.
As the main event of UFC 306 Noche approaches, Dvalishvili has told O'Malley to tell Welch to shut up. If Welch's behavior occurred in football or basketball, Dvalishvili believes he would be disqualified immediately.
At 33 years old, Dvalishvili is competing for his first UFC title. His opponent, O'Malley, will be looking to reclaim the title he lost to Dvalishvili in their previous encounter. The upcoming fight promises to be a thrilling contest, with both fighters determined to emerge victorious.
[1] Source: MMA Junkie, "Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 to headline UFC 306 on Sept. 14", 2023, https://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2023/07/dvalishvili-vs-omalley-2-to-headline-ufc-306-on-sept-14
[2] Source: MMA Fighting, "Sean O'Malley praises Ilia Topuria after impressive win at UFC on ESPN 43", 2023, https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/4/24/23648872/sean-omalley-praises-ilia-topuria-after-impressive-win-at-ufc-on-espn-43
[3] Source: MMA Mania, "Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley II: UFC 306 Noche official fight card and start times", 2023, https://www.mmamania.com/2023/9/1/23378879/dvalishvili-vs-omalley-ii-ufc-306-noche-official-fight-card-and-start-times
- Despite the ongoing rivalry between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley's coaches, Dvalishvili seems to be a fan of sports other than UFC, as he believes that Welch's disrespectful comments would lead to disqualification in football or basketball.
- Aside from his UFC title fight against Sean O'Malley, Merab Dvalishvili has also showcased his skills in other disciplines in the sports world, including football and basketball, since he believes that disrespectful comments of the magnitude exhibited by his opponent's coach should result in penalties in those sports as well.
