Sean O'Malley's coach takes aim at Herb Dean for stopping potential fight-ending moment: “He might’ve KO’d him right there"

Sean O'Malley suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC 306 on Sept. 14. 'Sugar' was dominated for large portions of the fight, with his best moment coming in Round 5 when he hurt his opponent after landing a body kick.

But O'Malley's longtime coach and friend, Tim Welch, recently cited a moment in Round 2 when the 29-year-old could have found a finish if not for referee Herb Dean.

Near the end of the round, 'The Machine' was captured kissing the back of O'Malley, which prompted Dean to step in and break up the action. Dvalishvili believed that the round was over as he turned around to begin walking to his corner.

But with several seconds left in the round, 'Sugar' got off the canvas and struck his opponent.

Watch the sequence below:

During an interview with ESPN MMA several days after the bout, Welch stated that had Dean not been so close to both fighters, the former champion could have landed a head kick that certainly could have finished the fight.

He said this:

"If Herb wouldn't have gotten in [O'Malley's] way and he could have turned his hips and his shoulders over, he might of KO'd him right there."

Watch Tim Welch discuss Sean O'Malley's fight below (13:05):

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Doctors couldn't have discovered Sean O'Malley's injury pre-Noche UFC, says Dana White

Noche UFC 306 was headlined by a bantamweight title clash between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.

The betting odds ahead of fight night had the main event as a pick 'em matchup. But the fight unfolded with Dvalishvili dominating nearly all five rounds en route to a unanimous decision win.

Many fans and pundits noted that 'Sugar' did not look like his usual self against 'The Machine', and it has now been revealed that he suffered a torn labrum in his hip roughly ten weeks before the event.

Following the most recent edition of Dana White's Contender Series, UFC CEO Dana White appeared in front of the media. He was asked how 'Sugar' passed a medical exam with such a severe injury, and he said this:

"If these guys come in and they have something and we don't know, I mean how would the doctors check for a torn labrum? You know what I mean. You can't... Literally everybody reached out to me that night and said Sean O'Malley didn't look like himself, he didn't look explosive."

Watch Dana White discuss Sean O'Malley's injury below (8:20):