After Making Shocking Excuses, Sean O’Malley’s Coach Admits ‘Fault’ in Noche UFC Loss to Merab Dvalishvili

The closer we get to the rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, the more stories and details are being revealed about their first encounter back at UFC 306. The stage was set for O’Malley to break through and reach the mainstream stardom he has always dreamed of having at The Sphere. But he couldn’t overpower the might of ‘The Machine’, who left a kiss on the back of O’Malley and took his belt in the process.

Legendary UFC commentator Joe Rogan revealed on the ‘JRE’ Podcast, “You know, ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley could have had it if he beat Merab, you know. But that was a nightmare match-up and he had a f…d up hip going into that fight.” Revealing O’Malley couldn’t say no to the fight, being the most hyped fighter of the UFC then, and paid for it with his biggest moment yet at the biggest stage too.

Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, known for his extraordinary takes on fights, believed that the lighting and glare of the stadium affected O’Malley’s striking and made him miss some heavy shots on Dvalishvili. While that statement got its reactions, in a recent statement, Welch has shown some accountability. He admitted his own fault for forcing O’Malley to look to KO Merab at any given moment. A plan that worked against them instead.

As he sat down with ESPN MMA to discuss their last fight, Tim Welch revealed, “Again, Merab was just on that night—you can’t take anything away from him. He just wasn’t afraid to shoot. Sean’s movement didn’t confuse him so much, and the shots that he did take were just great timing. I did not expect that from him. He’s such a hectic, robotic, not very rhythm-based dude. But his timing was just phenomenal on all his shots. He didn’t even really give Sean a chance to sprawl; he was so deep on these shots. And partly my fault—we’re trying to overcommit on punches and trying to KO him, and that was partly my fault too.”

So, what can we learn from all these revelations being unfolded about their first clash before their second one? One thing is for sure: Tim Welch and O’Malley have scanned the fight to the point where they are the most vulnerable, which turned the fight in Merab’s favor. And now they must have a blueprint for the next fight.

MMA: Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 – OMalley vs Dvalishvili Sep 14, 2024 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Sean OMalley of the United States red gloves fights Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia blue gloves during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Las Vegas The Sphere Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 20240915_jpm_cs1_M19570

For whatever that will happen inside the octagon is a mystery, both Dvalishvili and O’Malley will solve at UFC 316. The ‘Suga Show’ is training to be his absolute best and turn the tide in his favor this time. How, you ask? After leaving behind his habits that held him back like gaming, smoking, and masturbation, O’Malley has turned to MMA’s one of the greatest personalities ever, to help him beat his rival at UFC  316.

Sean O’Malley trains with Demetrious Johnson to improve his wrestling and grappling for the Dvalishvili fight at UFC 316

Sean O’Malley is intensifying and leveling up his preparations for his rematch against current bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. By training with legendary mixed martial artist Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson, the ‘Suga Show’ wants to benefit in fight aspects like takedown defense and grappling. Both the skills that Johnson has expertise in.

Johnson, regarded by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as “possibly the best fighter ever”, was the first UFC flyweight champion and holds records for most consecutive title defenses, 11, and consecutive wins, 13, in that division. His expertise is seen as crucial for O’Malley, whose grappling needs to be top-tier to reclaim the title. And while training with ‘Suga’, ‘Mighty Mouse’ complimented O’Malley’s striking and distance management, saying, “He’s a master of the Void [distance management]… Feint, feint, feint. Feint again, he’s getting reactions, he’s looking, he’s creating openings from his feints.”

So will the ‘Mighty Mouse’ be able to build the might inside Sean O’Malley, too? With Johnson’s insights and guidance, O’Malley aims to enhance his performance and reclaim the bantamweight title at the upcoming UFC 316 event. And he has all the notes from the last time. He will come to the Octagon prepared.

But so will Merab Dvalishvili. He knows what O’Malley is capable of. In all his jokes and animosity, ‘The Machine’ always has a game plan to beat his opponents up. So the question remains, who will prevail at UFC 316? Will it be Sean O’Malley reclaiming his title? Or will it be Dvalishvili’s day again? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

The post After Making Shocking Excuses, Sean O’Malley’s Coach Admits ‘Fault’ in Noche UFC Loss to Merab Dvalishvili appeared first on EssentiallySports.