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2d ago

Merab Dvalishvili's Team Prepares Referee Warning Ahead of UFC 316 Rematch with Sean O’Malley

As Dvalishvili defends his bantamweight title, his coach plans to address O’Malley’s corner tactics while the challenger claims significant improvement after injury recovery.

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Overview

  • Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 on June 7 in New Jersey, following their September 2024 bout where Dvalishvili claimed victory by decision.
  • Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, plans to brief the appointed referee on Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch’s history of using distracting corner tactics, which have previously drawn warnings.
  • Sean O’Malley has stated he will be "70% better" for the rematch, attributing his prior performance to a torn labrum in his left hip during their last fight.
  • Dvalishvili enters the rematch on a 12-fight win streak, including a dramatic comeback victory over Umar Nurmagomedov in January 2025 to defend his title.
  • The rematch highlights ongoing debates about tactical gamesmanship and regulatory oversight in the UFC, with both fighters preparing for a highly anticipated showdown.