After stepping in as the backup at UFC 299, Merab Dvalishvili found himself rooting for Sean O’Malley to emerge victorious over Marlon “Chito” Vera, eagerly anticipating a potential showdown between them for the title.
His hopes materialized when O’Malley convincingly defeated Vera over five rounds, solidifying a clear-cut decision victory. However, instead of focusing on the top contender in his own division, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, O’Malley, once again directed his attention towards featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Dvalishvili, typically composed, couldn’t hide his disappointment, especially as the UFC captured his reaction from the front row during the main event.