Dvalishvili Gears Up for O’Malley Fight Amidst Toe Injury

Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning UFC men’s bantamweight champion, has sustained a toe injury leading up to his highly anticipated match against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, which is scheduled for June 7 in Newark.

Dvalishvili took to social media to reveal the injury, humorously suggesting he might have his toe removed.

Quote from Dvalishvili:

“It’s okay, I’m gonna cut it off,” Dvalishvili posted.

The champion is currently on a remarkable 12-fight winning streak and has previously defeated O’Malley, securing a unanimous decision victory at the Sphere last September.

Dvalishvili has often shared updates about his injuries before crucial fights. This was also the case before his victory over O’Malley at Noche UFC in September 2024.

Prior to that fight, Dvalishvili suffered a face laceration a week before and openly displayed the injury on his social media platforms.

A video circulating on social media shows Dvalishvili questioning his teammate about the broken toe.

His teammate responded that Dvalishvili had kicked him in the head, resulting in the toe injury.

Exchange Between Dvalishvili and Teammate:

Dvalishvili: “Why you break my toe, my friend?”

Sandoval: “That was you, you kicked me in the head and broke your toe. That’s just wrong.”

Despite the setback, Dvalishvili seems optimistic and has given no indication of withdrawing from the title fight.

Recognized for his relentless energy and unwavering determination, the Georgian champion appears committed to overcoming the pain, transforming adversity into motivation as he aims to defend his title in what could be a defining moment in his career.