As the UFC calendar rolls forward from the action of UFC 315, all eyes now turn to next month’s pay-per-view at UFC 316. It’s the rematch fans have been waiting for between Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili. But it seems a lot has changed between the two camps since their last fight. O’Malley’s longtime coach, Tim Welch, now feels that the champion is the best bantamweight in the division. Welch and Dvalishvili did not share a very cordial relationship. However, the 34-year-old with his performances has forced Welch to change his narrative. 

Welch recently sat down for a chat with Brett Okamoto on the ESPN MMA show and shared his honest opinion on the champion. The legendary coach previously came out and labelled Aljamain Sterling as the best fighter in the division. However, he now feels that there’s no one who even comes close to ‘The Machine’. While speaking to Okamoto, he said, “I don’t really know how you debate that Merab’s not the best now of all time”. He feels the number of fights Merab has won against some of the best in the division has already pushed him to the top spot.

Welch further added, “Just look at his record. Has there ever been a bantamweight who’s beat that many champions in a row? I don’t think there has. So it’s pretty to say that Merab’s the best bantamweight ever right now.” Well, the O’Malley was definitely outclassed by Merab during their clash at UFC 306. He not only faced the wrath of the fans, but also the UFC CEO, Dana White, was also not impressed by ‘Suga’s’ performance at all. During the event’s post-fight press conference, the 55-year-old said, “He looked flat. [He] didn’t look sharp [and] he didn’t look crisp until the last round… I looked at the punch stats [and] it was like six in a couple of those rounds”. 

Following his one-sided defeat to Dvalisvili, the former bantamweight champion made some major changes in his approach to the game. Known for his constant presence on social media and regular podcast episodes, ‘Suga’ made the surprising decision to step away from the spotlight. It was a clear signal that he was serious about growth, not as an entertainer, but as a fighter. However, it seems it’s not only the O’Malley camp that has made some changes. The Dvalishvili camp is also looking forward to making a few changes, but mainly for Welch and his antics outside the Octagon. 

John Wood is planning to keep the referees on alert during the UFC 316 clash

Just after the fight at UFC 306, a corner cam footage from the UFC’s YouTube channel was released, which revealed a variety of things. During the video, coach Tim Welch was caught on camera taunting Merab with a smug remark—“Meraby, you might need to be patient, bud.” The jab, dripping with sarcasm, was a clear attempt to get under Dvalishvili’s skin and disrupt his rhythm right from the opening moments. But this time around, things will be different. Welch may have more to worry about than clever one-liners, as John Wood and the champion both have a plan to deal with it. 

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Merab Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood, shed light on the adjustments they’re bringing into the rematch. With a calm confidence, Wood detailed how their game plan has evolved, emphasizing the strategic changes that will set this performance apart from the last. Red Corner MMA took to their X account to share a clip of the conversation where Wood said, “I like Tim personally. I don’t take any offense to it. Do I think it’s stupid? Absolutely. But you know, I guess that maybe they think that it worked for the Aljo fight. So it’s something we’re gonna keep on doing. Then go ahead, but we will talk to the referees about it. But I don’t think it’s gonna be a problem in any way, shape, or form.” 

Despite O’Malley and his team’s efforts to throw Merab Dvalishvili off his game, their mind games had little effect. ‘The Machine’ stormed into the Octagon with relentless pressure and took control from the opening bell, delivering a dominant performance. However, it was later revealed that O’Malley had been dealing with a torn labrum in his left hip going into the fight. Can this time a fully fit Sean O’Malley defeat the champion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.