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Merab Dvalishvili Details How He Stole Sean O'Malley’s Jacket at UFC 288
Merab Dvalishvili didn’t enter the cage at UFC 288 with plans to take Sean O'Malley’s jacket, but the Georgian wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity once it presented itself.
The UFC’s #1-ranked bantamweight contender was in attendance at UFC 288 last weekend to support his friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling as he attempted to defend his bantamweight title a record-setting third time against Henry Cejudo. “Funk Master” won a split decision over the former two-division champion, and after the result was made official the #2-ranked O’Malley came into the cage to face off with Sterling.
READ MORE: Henry Cejudo's Coach Helped Prevent "Triple C" From Retiring Again
Amidst all of the trash talk and posturing between the two men, Dvalishvili suddenly appeared in the background of the faceoff wearing O’Malley’s red jacket.
The satisfied look on the Georgian’s face with his newly-acquired piece of attire drew as many headlines as the actual faceoff itself, and Wednesday’s edition of The MMA Hour provided Dvalishvili with a chance to explain his impromptu decision to don the jacket.
“We just [were] watching Aljo, how happy he is, watching his interview, everything," Dvalishvili told Ariel Helwani. "And from nowhere, O’Malley comes in and he was talking s*** about Aljo. And he face off [with] Aljo. I tried to get there quick because I make sure I stay there because make sure he don’t do something stupid or his coach, or somebody. And I was there just in case.”
READ MORE: Sean O'Malley On Aljamain Sterling Fight: "I'm Gonna Snipe This Dude"
Dvalishvili may have entered the Octagon intending only to celebrate with Sterling and make sure things didn’t escalate with O’Malley, but the moment he saw “Sugar” begin to remove his jacket, the 32-year-old jumped into action.
“And he started taking [off his] jacket, and I was there and I can’t wait to grab his jacket actually. And soon as he take [it] off I help actually to like take off from the hand, and then I grab it. And I’m just – Al [Iaquinta] was next to me, and he told me ‘Don’t give him back.’ And I’m looking one second, I said ‘I have an even better idea.’ And then I put it on. And like, what’s he gonna do?”
Although he’s currently ranked higher than O’Malley, both Dvalishvili and Sterling have repeatedly indicated that they have no intention of fighting each other. Even prior to the Cejudo fight Sterling had been teasing the idea of moving up to featherweight to clear the bantamweight title picture for Dvalishvili, but it appears “Funk Master” is eager to settle things with O’Malley prior to testing himself in another weight class.
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