Merab Dvalishvili Sustained a toe injury weeks Before UFC 316 Title Fight Against O’Malley.
Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC bantamweight champion known for being unusually open on social media, frequently sharing details about his injuries and training setbacks has yet again shared that he has sustained a toe injury just two weeks before his title defense against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316.
Merab Dvalishvili talked about his toe injury by uploading a video of his leg showing the injured toe. The injury happened during a sparring session with teammate Cameron Sandoval, Dvalishvili reportedly broke his pinky toe while delivering a head kick.
“Why you break my toe my friend?” Dvalishvili jokingly asked in the video speaking to his training partner Sandoval.
” That was you, you kicked me in the head and broke your toe, that was your fault,” Sandoval said back to him .
” I’m going to cut if off,” Dvalishvili said. ” This guy broke it.”
Though he said he’d ‘cut it off,’ Merab was only joking about cutting the injured toe. It is just his way of keeping things humorous.
The upcoming fight is a much-anticipated rematch. Merab Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 in September 2024, showcasing a dominant five-round display built on relentless grappling and constant pressure that effectively shut down O’Malley’s striking game. Before that, O’Malley had successfully defended his belt against Chito Vera but couldn’t find his rhythm in their first clash at the Sphere in Las Vegas, ultimately dropping a unanimous decision. Since that victory, Dvalishvili has extended his winning streak to 12, including a title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov. Meanwhile, O’Malley hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since losing the title.
The rematch between Dvalishvili and O’Malley will headline UFC 316 on June 7. In their first encounter at UFC 306, Dvalishvili relied on his wrestling to shut down O’Malley’s offense, earning an agreed decision victory and capturing the bantamweight title. That win marked Dvalishvili’s 12th consecutive victory, with his last loss dating back to April 2018.
Both guys are fired up to make a statement, so UFC 316 is shaping up to be a serious fight. O’Malley wants to get his belt back, while Dvalishvili is out to keep showing why he’s the top dog in the bantamweight division.
