'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sean O'Malley received some strategic advice ahead of his UFC 316 rematch with Merab Dvalishvili. The advice came from Eric Nicksick, a highly regarded coach at Xtreme Couture, who has served as the brains behind Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland's UFC championship success.
According to Nicksick, O'Malley would be best served by accepting that he won't have a flawless performance against Dvalishvili, even if he wins. Nicksick advised 'Suga' to expect tough situations, and more importantly, to expect to be taken down, outlining his thoughts on Home of the Fight. He said:
"You know, I would like to see Sean be a little bit more, I wouldn't say reckless, but I think just a little bit more confident in his striking. I look at it like this. You're probably gonna get taken down. So, don't limit your striking arsenal because you don't wanna get taken down. You're probably gonna get taken down. So, let's go, bro. Let's throw, and I think he saw that, maybe in the fourth or fifth round."
Trending
Check out Eric Nicksick's advice for Sean O'Malley below:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
O'Malley did have more success in the fight than he's given credit for, as it wasn't straight dominance from Dvalishvili. 'Suga' was competitive in round one and won rounds three and five, with the final round featuring a moment wherein he hurt Dvalishvili with a teep kick to the body.
Unfortunately, after wilting from Dvalishvili's bottomless gas tank, O'Malley had no cardio left to follow up properly and pursue the finish. However, he has vowed to be better-prepared for the rematch and is aiming to knock Dvalishvili out.
Sean O'Malley has only ever had one rematch prior to UFC 316
At UFC 316, Sean O'Malley challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title he once held. It is only the second rematch of O'Malley's career, as he previously lost to the Georgian phenom at UFC 306. His only other rematch came against Marlon 'Chito' Vera at UFC 299, which he won dominantly via unanimous decision.
Check out Sean O'Malley's performance against Marlon 'Chito' Vera below:
The pair's first fight took place years ago at UFC 252, marking O'Malley's first loss as a professional fighter. A low kick from Vera caused O'Malley to have drop foot, and ultimately led to 'Chito' TKO'ing him. O'Malley did not take the loss and maintains that it was a fluke.
