Merab Dvalishvili’s coach has indicated that the bantamweight champion’s team will proactively approach the referee ahead of the highly anticipated rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316. This decision is in response to a controversial tactic employed by O’Malley’s trainer, Tim Welch, which was used during O’Malley’s championship win over Aljamain Sterling in 2023.
During that fight, Welch shouted a decoy call, leading Sterling to mistakenly believe it was his own coach encouraging him, ultimately resulting in Sterling’s knockout defeat. Though Welch attempted a similar tactic during O’Malley’s bout with Dvalishvili in September, it backfired, as referee Herb Dean issued a warning, and Dvalishvili went on to secure a dominant decision victory to claim the title.
Dvalishvili will defend his title against O’Malley in New Jersey on June 7, building on a successful defense against Umar Nurmagomedov earlier this year. Coach John Wood emphasized the importance of addressing this issue with the appointed referee, stating, “Of course we’ll have that talk. I think Tim will do it again, but feel free to talk to Merab all you want; it just gave him more motivation.”
Wood expressed his confidence in Dvalishvili’s ability to overcome any psychological tactics, remarking, “Whatever you think you’ve got to do to get your fighter up for the game, do it. As long as it’s within the rules… I think it’s stupid, but if they think it worked for the Aljo fight, they’ll probably continue to use it.”
At UFC 316, while Dvalishvili looks to extend his impressive 12-fight win streak, the card also features two bantamweight title bouts, with Julianna Pena set to defend her women’s 135-pound title against Kayla Harrison, a decorated judo Olympian and former PFL champion. Dvalishvili’s resilience and tactical preparation could provide a thrilling encounter as fans eagerly await this exciting event.