Two-time Merab Dvalishvili rival Sean O’Malley believes we may see a significant upset on this weekend’s UFC 323 fundamental occasion.
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title for the fourth time in 2025 towards Petr Yan at UFC 323 this Saturday. This can be a rematch of Dvalishvili’s record-setting Yan vs. Yan combat in 2023, when he had a file variety of takedown makes an attempt and profitable takedowns.
Since his first combat, Yan has continued to work towards a return to the bantamweight title with wins over Marcus McGee and Track Yadong. A win over Deiveson Figueiredo earlier this 12 months noticed him return to the group at 135 kilos.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is conversant in Dvalishvili and Yan, having fought two fights with the present champion and one with former titleholder Yan. Regardless of Dvalishvili’s profitable streak and far improved putting, O’Malley believes his boxing could possibly be in bother at UFC 323.
Sean O’Malley predicts Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan
in a latest interview ariel helwani presentO’Malley shared his predictions for the primary occasion of UFC 323.
“The one means Yan goes to beat Merab is that if Merab is gaining confidence in his palms and getting extra punches, virtually knocking Cory Sandhagen out,” O’Malley stated.
“He did it to Umar when he was throwing extra combos, he did it to Corey. Petr is a man you must be on guard towards as a result of he will preserve his chin up and take benefit. He is such an excellent counter, he is quick, he’ll sit within the pocket and commerce. He did that towards Umar as properly. He is throwing extra combos.”
“However Merab’s fight IQ is smarter than his regular IQ, so I do not assume they will essentially attempt to make a take care of him, however we do not know.”
O’Malley will return to the Octagon subsequent month at UFC 324 towards Track Yadong. If Dvalishvili wins at UFC 324, there’s a good likelihood he’ll search a rematch with Umar Nurmagomedov as his subsequent title protection.
