UFC 306: Sean O’Malley dominated by Merab Dvalishvili in one-sided title fight

“Suga” Sean O’Malley has suffered a devastating loss to Georgian Merab Dvalishvili in a one-sided contest at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Merab Dvalishvili has stunned MMA superstar and bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley in a one-sided main event at UFC 306.

O’Malley, one of the most popular fighters in the sport’s history, had the support of the crowd at the Sphere in Las Vegas as he attempted to defend his belt for a second time.

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But the Georgian dominated virtually from start to finish, winning his 11th straight fight to claim a gold UFC belt on his first attempt.

The judges scored the fight 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 to Dvalishvili in a fight that wasn’t as close as those scores indicate.

O’Malley, who usually entertains and dictates terms in his fights, appeared oddly short of energy and had his cardio drained by Dvalishvili’s ground game.

The man known as “Suga” tried to lift and go for a knockout in the final round, but he fell well short as Dvalishvili took control of the division.

Dvalishvili dictated terms for most of the fight. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” Dvalishvili said looking down at the belt around his waist.

“I wasn’t thinking of the belt, I was thinking of O’Malley. I know he’s good, but I made him look normal.

“Nothing surprised me, nothing. I can go 15 more rounds like this.”

One fan summed it up afterwards, posting on X: “Merab keeping it classy, but we know he’s a beast in the cage!”

There was a bizarre start to the fight, with Dvalishvili showing more interest in O’Malley’s corner than the opponent in front of him.

Referee Herb Dean had to warn the Georgian before the title fight had properly begun.

Once they did square off, Dvalishvili pulled off a successful take-down to shade the first of five rounds.

O’Malley’s team labelled him “lazy” and implored him to lift his workrate.

The Georgian continued to dictate terms, however, dominating a strangely listless O’Malley in the second round.

Dvalishvili ended up taunting and even kissing O’Malley on his back before he let the American up before the second round ended.

Dvalishvili receiving a warning from referee Herb Dean. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

As the fight grew on, it became increasingly clear there would only be one winner.

“Fans have favourites. They’re watching a guy that they’ve come to love getting taken down and controlled for most of 20 minutes,” Jon Anik said in commentary.

“What they should be saying is their guy is not giving up on himself and still throwing to try to end the fight.”

Joe Rogan could only pay credit to the Georgian.

“We should all be impressed with the game plan of Merab Dvalishvili,” he said.

“And how he’s been able to implement it against, up until now, the best fighter in the world.”

Coming into the fight, O’Malley had won six straight fights, along with one no-contest over an accidental eyepoke, dating back to his only previously UFC loss to Marlon Vera in August 2020.

Dvalishvili’s recent record was even more impressive, winning 10 straight fights since he lost consecutive contests way back in 2018.

O'Malley was warned for grabbing the inside of Dvalishvili’s glove.

Sean O’Malley suffered a one-sided defeat to lose his UFC belt. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Heading into the fifth and final round, it was clear O’Malley was in major strife.

“Unless O’Malley gets a KO this last round it’s over for him,” was one comment on X.

“Sean is getting bullied, wow,” wrote another UFC fan.

“Suga about to give that belt up if he doesn’t get a KO in this final round,” added a third.

It wasn’t to be as O’Malley lost his title and Dvalishvili became the new king of the bantamweight division.

In the co-main event, veteran Valentina Shevchenko regained her women’s flyweight world title in an impressive unanimous decision over titleholder Alexa Grasso.

Having lost her first fight with Grasso in March 2023 and then battling to a draw in the rematch a year ago, 36-year-old Shevchenko proved she’s far from a spent force in a dominant display over five rounds.