UFC 299: Kaseya Center; Miami, Florida
And the reign of Sean OMalley at bantamweight is off and running. Whether hero or villian he’s becoming the money making star he’s believed he is. And in a mostly pro Marlon Vera crowd it was a thorough beating for the champion at every angle 50-45 2x, 50-44 in a unanimous decision victory. Avenging his lone loss, and extending his unbeaten streak to seven fights.
As a sniper, he only needs one, but O’Malley used that outside fighting as effective as ever. He switched stances, used great footwork, and both hands were like pistons. And when he allowed Vera to come inside to try to make it a dirty fight, he teed off on the 31-year old Ecuadorian. And that was Vera’s best spot to snag a victory. What saved him from getting finished was his heart and chin, because the 230-significant strikes he ate would have floored just about any other fighter.
Thorough Beating For Champion, Can He Do That Again
Vera did start with a smart gameplan, trying to soften up O’Malley with a kicking game. But the champion’s reach helped turn it into a striking contest. Add in that Vera was biting on O’Malley’s feints. From the second-round on he picked up the pace, making Vera’s face resemble a catcher’s mitt.
Looking forward while he might have called out Ilia Topuria, which might be a real fun fight, there’s more important work to be done. Plus calling out the champion at a division higher has become so incredibly hacky. As a matter of fact both champions have other business to take care of in their own divisions first.
Merab Dvalishvili was the back up fighter, and has been running through everyone. It’s time for the Georgian to taste his first title shot. Plus he’s become somewhat of a folk hero. The come forward and high pace he fights with might bother most, but O’Malley has the plan to counter that. Yes pressuring a sniper is the way to defeat him. But O’Malley’s improving footwork can side step him, and counter away. Dvalishvili has a solid chin, but it’s never truly been tested.
Another thing we don’t know yet about Dvalishvili is how will he hold up to the bright lights of a main event fight week against a champion. Where he can succeed is bring the action to the ground with his wrestling, although O’Malley is no slouch on the ground. Dvalishvili goes to the body well with his striking, and there he will hope to slow the champion down.
Should O’Malley get past him, he’ll have a nice run. At least until Umar Nurmagomedov fights his way up the rankings.
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