Can ‘Suga’ Survive Merab’s Endless Takedowns?

“We’ll see if he can wear it.”

Top ranked bantamweight title challenger Merab Dvalishvili has hit double-digit takedowns a total of four times under the UFC banner and recently out-wrestled Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. That’s probably why oddsmakers don’t like Sean O’Malley’s chances if the promotion books the 135-pound champion against the wrestling “Machine.”

That may also explain O’Malley’s frequent callouts of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

“Both the fights are just so scary,” O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, told “MIGHTYcast” podcast (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “Fight Ilia, you make a mistake with Ilia, you’re going to lay there flat on your back unconscious. Merab, it’s like he’s five rounds. He’s going to come in there, and he’s not going to be afraid to try to cover the distance and shoot like we said. I think they’re both just such huge problems, but I think Merab. I think Merab deserves it.”

Dvalishvili (17-4) has won 10 straight fights dating back to late 2018.

“He’s won 10 fights in a row, 10 fights in a row in the UFC,” Welch continued. “Getting ready for a problem like that will be fun, and if we can knock him flat and turn his nose sideways, that’ll feel good. I think Merab’s the type to have the balls to just say, ‘F*ck it, go, I’m going no matter what, I don’t care. He probably will get cracked hard coming in. We’ll see if he can wear it, but he is that type to just say, ‘F*ck it’ and go.”

No word yet on when or where the promotion will ask O’Malley to make his next bantamweight title defense but late summer or early fall seems likely. “Suga” was last seen turning away longtime nemesis Marlon Vera atop the UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Miami.