Coach Javier Mendes believes Umar Nurmagomedov would have beaten Sean O’Malley if he had been in the same position as Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306.
O’Malley faced Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title on Saturday in the main event of UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere, where Dvalishvili completely dominated O’Malley on the ground for the majority of the bout and earned himself a unanimous decision victory.
Mendes believes Nurmagomedov has a better submission technique than the new champion, and according to the American Kickboxing Academy head coach, if Nurmagomedov had beaten O’Malley the way Dvalishvili did, he probably would have defeated him by submission.
“The outcome would have been different,” Mendes told Submission Radio. “It wouldn’t have been the same. It would have been against O’Malley on the ground. But Umar could have finished him on the ground. If Umar could have taken O’Malley to the ground, which I think he had a good chance of doing, from what I saw. If Umar had taken O’Malley to the ground, I think Umar is a better submission specialist than Merab.”
Shortly after Dvalishvili’s win, UFC commentator Joe Rogan named Nurmagomedov as a possible opponent, with cameras focused on the Dagestan challenger in the arena. However, Dvalishvili delayed the question, appearing overwhelmed with emotion and refusing to plan his next steps. “The Machine” has previously dismissed Nurmagomedov’s claim to a title fight as a perk of being Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin. The Georgian suggested Nurmagomedov face another top-level opponent “like Petr Yan,” naming Deiveson Figueiredo during the UFC 306 post-fight press conference.
Mendes isn’t worried about the possibility of Dvalishvili avoiding Nurmagomedov, knowing that no matter what happens, the UFC will have the final say. Speaking of a potential matchup between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov, Mendes believes the unbeaten protégé outclasses the champion in every way. However, Mendes did acknowledge that Dvalishvili’s proven grit is probably the best in the division.
“This fight is going to be anywhere,” Mendes said, “it’s going to be anywhere. It’s going to be anywhere. It’s going to be anywhere. I think we have the sharper feel on the ground or on the ground. He has incredible cardio, and that’s a big part of his advantage. Nobody has that kind of advantage at bantamweight, as far as I know. He has incredible cardio. So, if you go against him and go five rounds, you better be prepared for the first five rounds to be tough, because that’s what this guy is all about.”
