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Merab Dvalishvili must be the following man as much as battle for the bantamweight title, and he has two potential opponents in ready.
Behind one door is Sean O’Malley, who just lately grew to become champion with a second-round knockout of Dvalishvili’s shut pal and teammate Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292; behind the opposite door is Marlon Vera, one of many division’s stoutest contenders and the one man to have overwhelmed O’Malley. The 2 collide in the principle occasion of UFC 299 in Miami subsequent Saturday, with Dvalishvili anticipated to face the winner after defeating Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 to notch his tenth straight victory.
Whereas Dvalishvili’s subsequent battle is a protracted methods away from being signed, he was requested by Demetrious Johnson to interrupt down how he’d fare in opposition to the UFC 299 headliners.
“I see [O’Malley] as a harmful opponent as a result of he has good footwork, he has knockout energy, he has a really sturdy proper hand, and he has good timing,” Dvalishvili mentioned on the MIGHTYcast. “I see him as a harmful fighter. As soon as he received on the Contender Collection and I noticed him within the UFC, I wished to battle him as a result of I need to problem myself and I’m nonetheless wanting that method.
“However how I see [the fight playing out], I feel I ought to keep sensible, simply affected person, preserve hanging and simply await my time to shoot. If he defends, I let him go after which I’m going to shoot once more, make him gradual, make him drained, and ultimately I’ll take him down.”
Dvalishvili has developed a popularity as one of many bantamweight division’s most fearsome grapplers, which on paper appears to make him the proper foil for the extra striking-minded O’Malley. Which may be one motive why O’Malley just lately entertained the opportunity of difficult featherweight champion Ilia Topuria ought to he get previous Vera, an concept that “Sugar” walked back when he received a negative reaction to passing on a Dvalishvili battle.
Ought to “Chito” defeat O’Malley, it’s unlikely that the corporate man would marketing campaign for a particular opponent, so it might be a matchup that Dvalishvili should contemplate quickly.
“I feel ‘Chito’ can also be fighter,” Dvalishvili mentioned. “Very sensible, he’s ready in his pocket, he’s affected person. He’s gradual, however he’s sharp. After all, he has loads of expertise within the UFC, he’s been in so many fights, received and misplaced. He’s harmful, he has good kicks as properly. However I don’t research him a lot, ‘Chito’ Vera, but, however one factor is for certain, I’ll simply prepare arduous. What I discovered is that you simply’ve obtained to simply go step-by-step each battle. I’m centered on my subsequent battle, subsequent battle, subsequent battle, that’s how I imagine. I spotted that a few years in the past, simply deal with the following battle.
“So if ‘Chito’ wins, I’ll simply begin finding out him, however simply preserve doing my factor. It’s nothing private, if I lose in opposition to them then OK, God bless you, no drawback. It’s a battle.”
Dvalishvili has mentioned on a number of events that he’s so desperate to return to motion that he is willing to serve as a backup for the UFC 299 important occasion. It’s a stance that hasn’t modified with the cardboard lower than two weeks away.
Even when he’s not wanted in that position, he hopes that whoever is champion on the finish of subsequent weekend is able to battle him quickly.
“Truly, I need to be again as quickly as attainable as a result of my final battle, despite the fact that I used to be making ready arduous and I used to be prepared, I don’t know, someway I didn’t really feel like I used to be in a battle,” Dvalishvili mentioned. “I don’t know. I really feel like nothing occurred and I’m simply very hungry for a battle. I nonetheless need to compete, my physique feels good.
“Normally, after weight cuts, you’re simply hungry, loopy, you’re sore, subsequent week you often really feel it and also you don’t even need to go to the fitness center. Now, I really feel like I missed it. In the present day I used to be on the fitness center, sparring, coaching, I like it. I get pleasure from it. I’ve motivation. I don’t really feel like I simply received the battle. Hopefully, the following battle will probably be quickly.”
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