UFC 306: Dvalishvili staying ‘professional’ despite O’Malley beef
Heading into his first-ever title fight, Merab Dvalishvili has shed light on his beef with UFC 306 opponent Sean O’Malley.
In an attempt to needle his bantamweight title rival, O’Malley had tweeted: “Are all Georgians runts?”
Despite being angered by the comments, Dvalishvili assured fans that he will be professional in Saturday night’s fight.
“It’s not personal,” the No.1 bantamweight contender said during a media event in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
“This is a professional fight.
“This is for a UFC belt. This is for legacy.
“Yes, I was mad about him a couple of times.
“I was very mad when he mentioned my country in a disrespectful way.
“Because my country, it’s more than religion for me.
I have my country in my heart, that’s why I start fighting. Because I want to represent my country.
“When somebody, it doesn’t matter who, disrespects your family or your country, you have to be mad.
“If you are a man, you have to be mad and I wanted to smack his face that time.”
Dvalishvili and O’Malley will fight in the main event of UFC 306, with Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko warming up the octagon in the first of two title fights taking place at Sphere.
“Now I have an even more important thing to beat him Saturday night and grab his belt, take his belt and I can talk after the fight,” Dvalishvili added.
“Maybe I can forgive him or we can just talk.
“I’m going to keep it that way.
“I want to just win and show him he has to be humble and he has to respect everybody.
“Now today how I feel, it’s nothing personal, it’s just professional.”
UFC bookmakers have O’Malley slightly ahead in the betting, however.
Bovada is paying -138.89 for the American to retain his bantamweight belt, while Dvalishvili is at +110 to become the new champion.
You may also like
Join the Betting Planet team!
Are you passionate about sports betting? Sports news writers required TODAY!
Experienced preferred but not essential. (All apps considered).
View Careers at Race MediaTop Online Casinos
Latest Betting News
- WTA Finals: Gauff stuns Sabalenka to set final against Zheng
- ATP Finals: Jannik Sinner channelling home support in Turin
- EPL Matchweek 11 betting picks, odds & predictions
- La Liga betting tips, prop picks & best odds | Matchday 13
- UFC Fight Night: Magny vs Prates main card preview & free picks
- NFL Sunday Week 10 betting picks & top props | November 10, 2024
- NZ eager to give Shaun Johnson a perfect send-off against PNG
- Dana White: Winner of Jones v Miocic will fight Aspinall next
- WTA Finals: Swiatek fails to make last four despite victory
- Bundesliga soccer betting picks & predictions | Matchday 10
Casino Guides
- Safest online casino jurisdictions
- How to guides
- How to win at pokies
- How to play online pokies
- PaysafeCard online casino deposits
- MasterCard Online Casinos
- Online Casinos Accepting POLi
- 32Red Casino Review
- All Slots Casino Review
- Boombet Casino review
- Horse racing games at casinos
- Credit card deposits at online casinos
- Films about blackjack
- Live dealer casinos
- How to play live dealer blackjack party
- Online Blackjack
- Top online casinos 2024
- Online casino deposits
- MasterCard Online Casinos
- Online Casinos Accepting POLi
- PaysafeCard online casino deposits
- Online slots
- Playing Pai Gow Poker on the Internet
- Online keno
- Online poker
- Online poker tournament structures
- Real money online roulette 2024
- Online multi-wheel roulette – what is it?
- How to play online scratch cards in 2024
- Sit & Go online poker tournaments
- Skrill e-wallet deposits at online casinos
- Visa online casino deposits
Sports Betting Guides
Casino Games
Deposits & Withdrawals
Football
Basketball
Top Country Betting sites
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Brazil
- Canada
- Dominican Republic
- Germany
- Ghana
- Grenada
- India
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Kenya
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe