UFC 306: ‘Phenomenal’ Sean O'Malley on the rise but Merab Dvalishvili ‘worst match-up possible', says Michael Bisping

Updated 09/09/2024 at 18:39 GMT

Merab Dvalishvili can be a threat to UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, despite his "phenomenal rise to stardom", according to Michael Bisping, as the duo prepare to meet at UFC 306 on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from the Sphere in Paradise. “This man is phenomenal, he’s getting better all the time," Bisping said of O'Malley.

Sean O'Malley attends Netflix Is A Joke Fest's "The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady" at the Kia Forum on May 5, 2024 in Inglewood, California

Image credit: Getty Images

Michael Bisping feels that Merab Dvalishvili is the “worst match-up possible” for Sean O’Malley despite his “phenomenal” rise to stardom.

The American will look to make it seven consecutive victories in a bid to defend his UFC bantamweight title when the pair lock horns at UFC 306 in Las Vegas on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Bisping feels that despite the threat of Dvalishvili, O’Malley is “getting better all the time” and has continued to impress with big-name scalps.

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“Everyone knows the name ‘Suga’ Sean O'Malley; the rise to stardom has been amazing to watch,” former UFC middleweight champion Bisping told TNT Sports.

“He’s passed the tests slowly but surely, getting better every single time when he’s had to step up against a former champion; [against] Petr Yan he got the job done.

“Then he knocked out Aljamain Sterling in sensational fashion and then put one of the worst beatdowns that you’ll ever see on anybody over five rounds against Chito [Marlon] Vera.

“This man is phenomenal, he’s getting better all the time. The star is rising, the skills are getting better and the confidence is growing.”

Despite O’Malley’s devastating form that made him bantamweight champion, No. 1 ranked Dvalishvili is unbeaten in 10 bouts.

Bisping believes he could prove to be a big problem for O’Malley who will hope to defend his crown.

“Then steps in Merab Dvalishvili, the man that, on paper, is the worst match-up possible,” Bisping added ahead of Saturday’s rumble.

“A shorter guy, who can’t really compete on the striking if I’m honest, but when it comes to pressure, when it comes to pace, when it comes to just weaponising cardio, this man is a monster,” Bisping added.

“We’ve seen him go through Henry Cejudo, the former gold medallist at the Olympics, beat him at his own game. There are many, many other fighters that we can look at where he’s done the same thing.

“The cardio is phenomenal, it’s a five-round affair, but he’s got to get on the inside. If he can get on the inside and get a hold of Sean O'Malley, you never know what we might see.

“But on the outside, this is a really, really tough test for Merab Dvalishvili.”

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