Opposite to widespread opinion, Robert Whittaker thinks UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley can be the one posing issues for Merab Dvalishvili.
Whittaker was very impressed with O’Malley’s (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) efficiency in opposition to Marlon Vera (21-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) Saturday at UFC 299, the place he battered “Chito” for 5 rounds.
“Mate, it was a landslide,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade podcast. “Sean was phenomenal, like not solely was he putting on level, and I discussed this in my predictions, that his spacing is so good and clearly he’s acquired lengthy attain.
“He’s a tall man for the division, however I believe his arms simply lead that. However his eyes, his instincts and his spacing simply lead him to have the ability to strike and throw punches and fireplace off lefts and rights and be inventive from the skin at any time when he needs. And I’ll say on high of that, it appeared like his velocity was a notch greater.”
O’Malley referred to as out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, however is prepared to battle Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) subsequent. Whittaker sees Dvalishvili having a tough time closing the gap in opposition to O’Malley.
“I believe Merab and Sean are a foul matchup,” Whittaker stated. “I believe Sean’s spacing and simply his creativity and to not point out Sean has all the skillset, all the arsenal. If you happen to suppose he’s not, like going to be working straight line assaults like that lead knee he did in opposition to Vera. He threw it within the third and that was solely after he noticed Vera shelling up and placing his head down.
“That was an adjustment on the transfer. If you happen to don’t suppose he’s going to be working issues like that for Merab, you’re kidding your self. To not point out Sean discovered the timing slot in opposition to Sterling, who’s phenomenal in that division. I believe it’s going to be a tough battle.”
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