UFC 306 social media reactions: Merab Dvalishvili's dominant title win over Sean O'Malley met with praise from fighters
Merab Dvalishvili finally took helm at the top of the bantamweight division Saturday when he captured the title from Sean O'Malley in the UFC 306 headliner.
Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) closed out the promotion's historic debut event at Sphere in Las Vegas when he extended his winning streak to 11 consecutive fights courtesy of a unanimous decision triumph over O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to mark a new champion in the 135-pound division.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Dvalishvili beating O'Malley at UFC 306.
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UFC
Fits are UNREAL 🔥@SugaSeanMMA vs @MerabDvalishvil
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/3t3HpvROts— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
UFC
The Champ is wrapped 👊
Don’t miss the BW king @SugaSeanMMA defend his throne soon!
📺📱 #UFC306 | Order at Link in Bio | @RiyadhSeason | #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/6NGKhReiH8— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) September 15, 2024
MMA Junkie
The MAIN EVENT of #UFC306 is here!
Who leaves with the belt, Sean O'Malley or Merab Dvalishvili?
Full coverage: https://t.co/iVX543Y4mV pic.twitter.com/Fy1YrZ6gci— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 15, 2024
UFC
It's almost show time 🤩@SugaSeanMMA vs @MerabDvalishvil
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC live RIGHT NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/z2Agz5Wo87— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
UFC
Chapter Six: Mexico Today And Tomorrow
Future Mexico: A civilization evolving from its rich lineage, as its people propel their culture forward into eternity.
{#UFC306 | @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC | @SphereVegas ] pic.twitter.com/Woq9WrEAZH— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
UFC
Meet holographic @MerabDvalishvil ✨
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC live RIGHT NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/oBNJW3mEiO— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
Sphere
For Mexico. For all time. #NocheUFC #UFC306 @ufc pic.twitter.com/nTDa9W87Ih
— Sphere (@SphereVegas) September 15, 2024
UFC
✨ @SugaSeanMMA ✨
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC live RIGHT NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/XwSLaIpw3F— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
UFC
A 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 indeed 👑
The BW champ @SugaSeanMMA has arrived! #UFC306 | @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/fgC3B9WZtI— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) September 15, 2024
UFC
It's almost GO TIME 👀
Who you got?
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/dz3XmcaSGW— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
Dillon Danis
UFC
HERE. WE. GO! #UFC306#NocheUFC @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/axWr6mX84B
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 15, 2024
Championship Rounds
Merab Dvalishvili just asked Herb Dean to stop the fight because O’Malley’s coach was shouting in his corner 😬😬#NocheUFC #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/BpgzVrLXhA
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 15, 2024
Nolan King
Not something you see every day - Herb Dean calls timeout and warns Merab Dvalishvili for talking smack to Tim Walsh... and then he warns Tim Walsh mid-round, too #NocheUFC
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) September 15, 2024
Sodiq Yusuff
Fighters aren't allowed to talk to a corner?
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) September 15, 2024
Kevin Iole
Takedown by Merab with two minute sleft in first
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 15, 2024
Anton Tabuena
Easy takedowns for Merab on his first attempts. Not sure why he kept playing with fire trying to stand, with how easy those were.
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) September 15, 2024
Fight Ghost
Sugar Sean takedown defense piss poor #UFCNoche
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) September 15, 2024
Aaron Bronsteter
10-9 Merab after R1
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 15, 2024
Alan Jouban
Merabs a menace! #UFC306
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 15, 2024
Henry Cejudo
Pretty even round. Merab making this a dirty fight which is exactly what he needs to do #UFC306
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024
Chris Curtis
Merab is literally a fucking troll 😂😂😂#UFC306
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) September 15, 2024
Kevin Iole
Takedown in center by Merab with plenty of time in the round left
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 15, 2024
Dan Tom
When I was in the referee course I don’t remember spending too much time on it but when they referenced “excessive coaching” it was in regard to corner positions (remaining both in and seated in your corner) and protocol (following how many corners allowed between rounds, etc.).
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) September 15, 2024
Yves Edwards
That glove grab is a sign of frustration. This is not looking good for O’Malley right now! #UFCNoche
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) September 15, 2024
Demetrious Johnson
Herb dean is the goat
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) September 15, 2024
Derek Brunson
Herb Dean is the standard for officiating ! #UFC306 #UFCNoche
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 15, 2024
Fight Ghost
Merab -325 live wagering fave entering round 3 #UFCNoche
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) September 15, 2024
UFC
"What is going on?" 🥴
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/niRiesVqJ5— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
Jed I Goodman
20-18 Merab after 2.#NocheUFC #UFC306
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 15, 2024
Alan Jouban
This is a Merab fight!! 😂 #UFC306
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 15, 2024
Terrance McKinney
Merab funny as hell kissing that boy lmfao
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 15, 2024
Miesha Tate
Punch em but don’t kiss em!! #stopthat #ufcnoche #mainevent
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) September 15, 2024
UFC
We're headed to the championship rounds!
What does your scorecard look like?
[ #UFC306 at @RiyadhSeason #NocheUFC live RIGHT NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/WBC0KCy1km— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2024
Derek Brunson
Ray Longo ‘Merab how does his power feel, let’s walk right through that MFer” 😂😂 OG #UFC306 #UFCNoche
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 15, 2024
Matthew Wells
I believe O'Malley stole that round late with a few combinations. 29-28 Merab going into Round 4. #UFC306
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) September 15, 2024
Brian Campbell
Ray Longo is the best thing about MMA. #UFC306
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbell) September 15, 2024
Henry Cejudo
Sean needs to go for broke early or it’s all over! Merab is only getting stronger
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024
Kevin Iole
Crowd booing as Merab has O'Malley pinned in center of Octagon, but Merab is working
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 15, 2024
Jorge Masvidal
Worst referee in the game #herb dean
— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) September 15, 2024
Dan Ige
I wanna see Patchy Mix in the UFC
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) September 15, 2024
Alan Jouban
Merab is up either 3-1 or 4-0. #UFC306
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 15, 2024
John Pollock
One-sided round for Merab and dominated in the strikes. Absorbed one from O'Malley and took him down to shut down O'Malley for majority of the round
40-36 Dvalishvili— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) September 15, 2024
MMA History Today
“We’re almost done with this”
- Tim Welch to Sean O’Malley before the 5th round. pic.twitter.com/buTZSK0MSU— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) September 15, 2024
Mike Bohn
Merab Dvalishvili gets his 5th takedown and ties Gleison Tibau for second-most in UFC history. #UFC306 https://t.co/jSCsVl1xBf
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 15, 2024
Fight Oracle
This is one of the worst performances UFC title fight history. O’Malley can’t do anything. Merab has barely broken a sweat.
— FightOracle ™ (@fightoracle) September 15, 2024
Dominick Cruz
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
Nolan King
Herb's gotta chill. No need for timidity warnings, imo #NocheUFC
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) September 15, 2024
Henry Cejudo
Merab found the formula to Sean! Let me at him next #UFC306
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024
UFC
Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili go the distance! #UFC306
How did you score it?!#NocheUFC @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/2mpBruWUsK— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 15, 2024
Ben Askren
Wow that was dominant!! Merab is a savage.
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 15, 2024
Simon Samano
Herb Dean influenced that final round WAY TOO MUCH for my liking. That said, 50-45 Merab for me. Clean sweep. Machine-like against O’Malley. #UFC306
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) September 15, 2024
Henry Cejudo
From sugar to shit! 50-45 🇬🇪
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 15, 2024
Alan Jouban
Final thoughts. Combat sports are forever changed. SPORTS are forever changed. We will want more of this! #UFC306
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 15, 2024
MMA Junkie
#UFC306/#NocheUFC results: Merab Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) def. Sean O'Malley via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – to win bantamweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/iVX543YCct pic.twitter.com/GojTye1KrP— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 15, 2024
Michael Carroll
Merab Dvalishvili becomes the 9th undisputed UFC Bantamweight Champion. #UFC306 #NocheUFC
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) September 15, 2024
Marlon Vera
I call it the other way, but congrats merab well fought
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) September 15, 2024
Mike Bohn
Need to see this fight ASAP. #UFC306 pic.twitter.com/9VtJ71ACz2
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 15, 2024
Dan Ige
Merab is a beast. Excited to see him and Umar.
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) September 15, 2024
UFC
"Mi victoria fue paso a paso" @MerabDvalishvil #NocheUFC
[ #UFC306 @RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/0XRidiDRpj— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) September 15, 2024
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 306 social media reactions: Merab Dvalishvili's dominant title win over Sean O'Malley met with praise from fighters