‘From sugar to shit’: Pros react to Merab Dvalishvili dominating Sean O’Malley at UFC 306
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Merab Dvalishvili just ended the reign of “Suga” Sean O’Malley.
The Georgian grappling machine put his talents on full display Saturday in the main event of UFC 306, taking O’Malley to the mat repeatedly for much of their five-round fight and keeping the pressure on until the decision was read and he was announced as the new UFC bantamweight champion.
It was a dominant performance for Dvalishvili, known for his endless cardio and non-stop aggression, and his fellow fighters couldn’t have been more impressed with how he dethroned O’Malley.
Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo—who has been angling for a future fight with O’Malley—had the harshest assessment of the fight, writing on social media that O’Malley went “from sugar to shit!”
The most newsworthy tweet of the night may have come from undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov, who wrote that he and Dvalishvili “have to be” matched up next.
See more reactions from the fighting community below.
From sugar to shit! 50-45
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024
White Papakha vs Black Papakha
Have to beCongratulations @MerabDvalishvil
Right now you champion
You deserve this belt
Enjoy .— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) September 15, 2024
Merab funny as hell kissing that boy lmfao
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 15, 2024
Punch em but don’t kiss em!! #stopthat #ufcnoche #mainevent
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) September 15, 2024
That’s what a fair fight looks like against the best guy in the world! None of that stacking deck bullshit to get an advantage! #UFC306
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 15, 2024
I call it the other way, but congrats merab well fought
— C H T O V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) September 15, 2024
Fuck man them front kicks had me scared for a sec congrats to Merab what a performance
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 15, 2024
Merab is fighting very smart so far. He is using forward pressure like always, however the feints and the kicks to set up his boxing is connecting him to the takedowns on Omally, and he’s holding him down very well also. Very smart tactics for Merab #UFCNoche
— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) September 15, 2024
Wow that was dominant!! Merab is a savage.
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 15, 2024
Mojob worked hard. Can’t be mad at him. Respect
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) September 15, 2024
Merab in Sean’s head 100%
— Johnny Eblen (@JohnnyEblen) September 15, 2024
Happy for the homie Merab, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy #UFC306
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) September 15, 2024
Merab is a beast. Excited to see him and Umar.
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) September 15, 2024
— GIGACHAD (@giga_chikadze) September 15, 2024
Amazing performance congrats champ @MerabDvalishvil
— Caolan Loughran (@DonCaolan135) September 15, 2024
And New!!!#UFC306
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) September 15, 2024
