Ray Longo has a pretty good idea of what skill set Merab Dvalishvili brings to the table.
Dvalishvili worked out of the Serra Longo Fight Team in New York before moving his training to Las Vegas. With Dvalishvili challenging Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title in the main event of UFC 306 on Saturday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Longo offered some insight into what “The Machine” needs to do to get his hands on the title belt.
“He’s going to have to take a punch to win this fight, that’s it,” Longo said on the “Anik & Florian Podcast” (transcript by MMAjunkie.com).
“O’Malley is a master sniper. If you go in thinking you’re not going to get hit or you’re going to do this or that, I think that’s a big mistake.”
UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili airs Saturday at 10pm ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Dvalishvili is the most dangerous wrestler O’Malley has faced in his promotional career, but the talented Georgian has never faced an opponent with the stand-up prowess of the current champion.
Davalishvili is currently on a 10-fight winning streak, and the closest he’s come to a stand-up fight was when he was knocked down in the first round against Marlon Moraes at UFC 266. This remains the only knockdown Davalishvili has suffered in his UFC career to date.
Because of that experience, Long believes DeVarichville will recognize the challenges O’Malley will pose.
“I’ll tell you how many times I practiced with him trying to get under the left hook. [before the Moraes fight] — and that’s exactly what Merab took. “I said, ‘At some point in this fight you’re going to have to walk through fire,’ and that’s exactly what he did. It’s going to be the same thing. Merab knows what he’s up against,” Longo said.
“I think O’Malley is a really strong fighter. I don’t think he’s ever faced anyone with the pressure Merab had and I don’t think Merab has ever faced anyone with the length, accuracy and power of O’Malley.”
