Relentless Dvalishvili taps O'Malley to retain title

NEWARK -- Merab Dvalishvili enactment 1 heck of a stamp connected a two-fight rivalry with Sean O'Malley connected Saturday night, dominating the challenger successful a third-round submission triumph astatine UFC 316 wrong Prudential Center.

Dvalishvili (20-4) took the 135-pound title from O'Malley (18-3) successful a unanimous determination astatine UFC Noche successful September, successful a combat that was competitory but a wide triumph for him. The rematch Saturday was not close. Dvalishvili pushed O'Malley backward and outlanded him connected the feet done 2 rounds, past submitted him via D'Arce choke astatine 4:42 of the third.

The triumph marked Dvalishvili's 13th successful a row, tied for the fourth-longest streak successful UFC history. It tied him for the fourth-most wins successful bantamweight past astatine 12.

"I conscionable enactment each time and repeat," Dvalishvili said. "Training is fig 1 for me. Afterwards, I tin bent out, bask with friends, spell to church, look for a wife, whatever."

O'Malley, who underwent hep country and made respective important beingness changes up of the rematch, accepted the nonaccomplishment with grace -- which is each helium truly could do.

Dvalishvili looked unstoppable from the start. According to UFC Stats helium outlanded O'Malley 135-34 successful full strikes. He converted 5 of 12 takedowns and accumulated implicit six minutes of power time.

Dvalishvili recorded his 3rd rubric defense. The 2nd came against Umar Nurmagomedov, relative of Khabib Nurmagomedov, successful January. He is expected to look No. 1 contender Cory Sandhagen next.