As Sean O’Malley gears up for his UFC 306 showdown against Merab Dvalishvili, Syndicate MMA head coach John Wood has shared some concerns about the champ’s preparations. The flashy bantamweight titleholder, known for his sniper-like striking, may face a significant challenge leading up to the fight.
O’Malley is confident in his ability to keep Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling at bay, but Coach Wood disagrees. He believes that replicating Merab’s high-octane style in training is nearly impossible.
“There’s a lot of really, really good strikers, and there are guys that we have in the gym, world champions that are able to simulate that style of striking [O’Malley’s]…But there is nobody out there that you can bring in that will simulate what Merab is going to do for five rounds,” said Coach Wood via MMA Junkie Radio.
Dvalishvili, who holds a 17-4 record in MMA and 10-2 in the UFC, is set to challenge O’Malley in the main event on September 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas. While O’Malley’s striking has earned him the reputation of being a “specialist,” Wood isn’t convinced that this alone will be enough.
Wood doesn’t dismiss O’Malley’s abilities, but he raises a valid point. While many world-class strikers are available for training, Dvalishvili’s style is uniquely challenging to prepare for. His non-stop pace and pressure have overwhelmed many opponents, and Wood suggests that O’Malley may struggle to find anyone who can replicate that intensity in the gym.
Sean O’Malley Beleives That Merab Dvalishvili Won’t Be Able To Take Him Down
The UFC bantamweight champion is not one to shy away from bold predictions, and his upcoming bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 is no exception. The outspoken fighter is brimming with confidence as he prepares to defend his 135-pound title on September 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas.
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Despite Dvalishvili’s reputation as a relentless grappler who has given nightmares to some of the sport’s top competitors, O’Malley firmly believes that he won’t face the same fate. In fact, he’s so confident in his ability to avoid the mat that he’s predicting an early finish—one that could come with a knockout.
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think he’s going to test my wrestling… I don’t think he’s going to be able to. Aljo, I guess you could say tested my wrestling a little bit, had me up against the fence twice, didn’t take me down once. I felt like that was a huge win to answer questions about wrestling,” said O’Malley via ESPN MMA.
But it’s not just O’Malley’s defense that he’s banking on—it’s his striking. He’s counting on his precision and ability to capitalize on any mistake ‘The Machine‘ might make, much like how he found Sterling’s chin. “It only takes one mistake,” he emphasized, clearly intent on delivering another highlight-reel finish.
