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UFC Macau takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
Can Sean O'Malley continue his dominance as champion, or will Merab Dvalishvili fulfill his promise as the unstoppable force at bantamweight? Find out the answer to this question and more on Fight IQ
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Will challenge O'Malley
Dvalishvili will face Sean O'Malley in a bantamweight fight in UFC Noche at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sep. 14.
ANALYSIS
Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 298 on Saturday in Anaheim in his most recent fight in February this year, and he'll get the title shot he was desperately looking for. Not only that, but he'll face O'Malley in a fight that has been slated to happen for quite some time. One of the most in-form fighters in the world regardless of weight -- and even discipline -- after winning 10 fights in a row, Merab will aim to take the most significant step in his career as he guns for the Bantamweight Championship.
Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 298 on Saturday in Anaheim in his most recent fight in February this year, and he'll get the title shot he was desperately looking for. Not only that, but he'll face O'Malley in a fight that has been slated to happen for quite some time. One of the most in-form fighters in the world regardless of weight -- and even discipline -- after winning 10 fights in a row, Merab will aim to take the most significant step in his career as he guns for the Bantamweight Championship.
Cruises again, title shot next?
Dvalishvili defeated Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC 298 on Saturday in Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Merab started slowly here, as we have seen in some of his past fights. Yet as we have also seen in his past bouts, he eventually finds his way and overwhelms his competition with the best combination of conditioning and grappling in the sport today. Yes, Cejudo is 37 years old, but he's a former Olympic Gold Medalist in freestyle wrestling. Merab ended up landing 5-of-11 takedown attempts and finished with a 167-54 edge in total strikes landed. The bottom line is that you're going to have to knock him out because no one is going to be able to match his pace, particularly in a five-round fight. The winner of ten fights in a row, Merab is almost certainly next in line for the winner of the upcoming UFC 299 Bantamweight Championship fight between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera, scheduled for early March in Miami (later confirmed by UFC President Dana White). When he does get the shot, Dvalishvili is going to be a hefty favorite over either.
Merab started slowly here, as we have seen in some of his past fights. Yet as we have also seen in his past bouts, he eventually finds his way and overwhelms his competition with the best combination of conditioning and grappling in the sport today. Yes, Cejudo is 37 years old, but he's a former Olympic Gold Medalist in freestyle wrestling. Merab ended up landing 5-of-11 takedown attempts and finished with a 167-54 edge in total strikes landed. The bottom line is that you're going to have to knock him out because no one is going to be able to match his pace, particularly in a five-round fight. The winner of ten fights in a row, Merab is almost certainly next in line for the winner of the upcoming UFC 299 Bantamweight Championship fight between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera, scheduled for early March in Miami (later confirmed by UFC President Dana White). When he does get the shot, Dvalishvili is going to be a hefty favorite over either.
Ex-double champ up next
Dvalishvili (hand) will compete against fellow bantamweight Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, according to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Dvalishvili needed a little more than four months for his hand to recover, but it has healed nonetheless. For his next fight, he will compete against a former double champion. Cejudo may enter the fight at 37 years old, but perhaps he can put up a good bout again like he did against Aljamain Sterling in mid-2023. Defeating the former double champion, also a top-three bantamweight contender, would finally grant Dvalishvili a shot for bantamweight gold, which Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera will fight for at UFC 299.
Dvalishvili needed a little more than four months for his hand to recover, but it has healed nonetheless. For his next fight, he will compete against a former double champion. Cejudo may enter the fight at 37 years old, but perhaps he can put up a good bout again like he did against Aljamain Sterling in mid-2023. Defeating the former double champion, also a top-three bantamweight contender, would finally grant Dvalishvili a shot for bantamweight gold, which Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera will fight for at UFC 299.
Out three-to-four months
Dvalishvili (hand) will be out three-to-four months, according to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Now, Dvalishvili's injury has a timetable. Fortunately for the Georgian, his surgically-repaired hand will not sideline him so long, as the updated agenda offers him an opportunity to compete again in 2023 if he really wants to. The No. 1 contender for the UFC Bantamweight Championship but unwilling to fight gym teammate and division champion Aljamain Sterling, Dvalishvili will wait to fight against a top-five contender (except for Petr Yan) or participate in a title match without Aljo next.
Now, Dvalishvili's injury has a timetable. Fortunately for the Georgian, his surgically-repaired hand will not sideline him so long, as the updated agenda offers him an opportunity to compete again in 2023 if he really wants to. The No. 1 contender for the UFC Bantamweight Championship but unwilling to fight gym teammate and division champion Aljamain Sterling, Dvalishvili will wait to fight against a top-five contender (except for Petr Yan) or participate in a title match without Aljo next.
Undergoes hand surgery
Dvalishvili disclosed via his personal Twitter account last week that he would undergo surgery on his right hand.
ANALYSIS
Dvalishvili last competed in March, when he handed top-5 bantamweight Petr Yan a convincing defeat via unanimous decision. That would put him in a spot to fight for a title, but current teammate Aljamain Sterling currently holds the belt at 135, and the two have been open about the fact that they will not fight each other. Sterling recently defended his title in a close fight against Henry Cejudo, and Cejudo proceeded to call out Dvalishvili as his next opponent. That fight never materialized, and now Dvalishvili will be forced to spend some time on the sidelines. According to MMA Mania, via teammate Chris Weidman, Dvalishvili will be looking at a 16-week recovery process and hopes to return to the Octagon within 22 weeks, which would put him in line for approximately a mid-October return.
Dvalishvili last competed in March, when he handed top-5 bantamweight Petr Yan a convincing defeat via unanimous decision. That would put him in a spot to fight for a title, but current teammate Aljamain Sterling currently holds the belt at 135, and the two have been open about the fact that they will not fight each other. Sterling recently defended his title in a close fight against Henry Cejudo, and Cejudo proceeded to call out Dvalishvili as his next opponent. That fight never materialized, and now Dvalishvili will be forced to spend some time on the sidelines. According to MMA Mania, via teammate Chris Weidman, Dvalishvili will be looking at a 16-week recovery process and hopes to return to the Octagon within 22 weeks, which would put him in line for approximately a mid-October return.