Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC champion, foresees Sean O’Malley securing a knockout victory against Aiemann Zahabi on June 14.
The highly anticipated bout between O’Malley and Zahabi is scheduled to take place on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Despite having faced O’Malley twice and handing him consecutive losses, Dvalishvili maintains that “Suga” possesses superior striking skills and has the capability to defeat Zahabi.
Merab Dvalishvili breaks down the upcoming Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi bout
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Dvalishvili expressed his opinion that Zahabi, a Canadian fighter with a seven-fight win streak, lacks the necessary wrestling prowess to take down O’Malley. Consequently, Dvalishvili believes O’Malley will emerge victorious via knockout on June 14.
“I like Zahabi, but of course I’m rooting for Sean O’Malley. I think Sean O’Malley will win this fight because he has good knockout power. I love him, and now I love him 10 times more… The only heartbreaking moment was his win against my friend Aljamain Sterling.”
Dvalishvili and O’Malley share a relationship of mutual respect, maintaining a clear distinction between their competitive rivalry and personal bond.
Dvalishvili himself is slated for a rematch against the current two-time bantamweight champion, Petr Yan, later this year. Yan previously dethroned Dvalishvili at UFC 323, preventing Dvalishvili from achieving a historic fourth title defense within a single year.
Following the title loss, the UFC has committed to an immediate rematch. Once Yan receives clearance to compete after undergoing back surgery, the two fighters will meet for the third time to settle their trilogy, which is currently tied at one win apiece.
English Translation:
Merab Dvalishvili, a former UFC champion, predicts that Sean O’Malley will knock out Aiemann Zahabi on June 14. The fight is set to be a part of the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House.
Dvalishvili, who has fought O’Malley twice and handed him losses, still believes O’Malley’s striking ability gives him an edge over Zahabi. In a conversation with Ariel Helwani, Dvalishvili suggested that Zahabi’s wrestling might not be sufficient to overcome O’Malley, leading to a potential knockout win for “Suga” Sean O’Malley.
“I like Zahabi, but of course I’m rooting for Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili stated. “I think Sean O’Malley will win this fight because he has good knockout power. I love him, and now I love him 10 times more… The only heartbreaking moment was his win against my friend Aljamain Sterling.”
Dvalishvili and O’Malley maintain a respectful relationship despite their past encounters. Dvalishvili is expected to face Petr Yan in a trilogy fight later this year after Yan defeated him for the bantamweight title.
