Mario Bautista reveals who has the best chance at beating UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili

Mario Bautista says someone like a Sean O’Malley can stop Merab Dvalishvili

Bautista had high hopes for Sean O’Malley in his UFC 316 title rematch with Dvalishvili in June.

Dvalishvili was hurt to the body by O’Malley in their first fight at UFC 306. Dvalishvili ultimately survived to see the distance, taking home the decision victory and the bantamweight title.

The rubber match was a totally different fight as Dvalishvili submitted O’Malley in the third round.

“I think it’d have to be someone… I thought it was Sean O’Malley,” Bautista said on who has the best chance against Dvalishvili on the Overdogs Podcast.

“It’d have to be someone that you have to put him out. He’s not gonna stop coming. You’re gonna have to put him out or hurt him really bad. So those types of guys, like, in the division, guys that could really hurt him or just finish him. You gotta put him away…

“Someone like Sean, I thought really had a good chance with that. Someone that could snap him on the feet and that has really good takedown defense, is able to get back and then able to hurt him.

“I had high hopes for Sean coming into the second fight,” Bautista continued.

“If Sean had the defense, say, like, Sandhagen. Sandhagen was able to get up pretty much every single time. But if Sandhagen had Sean’s power and [was] able to find that chin, I think that’d be a totally different fight,” said Bautista.

Mario Bautista on what he’d do against Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses.

The champion is known for having some of the best cardio in the UFC and mix that in with his relentless wrestling style, Dvalishvili is one tough puzzle to figure out.

So, how would Bautista get past a fighter like Dvalishvili?

“First, I always make sure I come in shape,” Bautista said.

“I kinda feel like I would kinda be on even playing field with him in that aspect.

“But you have to hurt him,” Bautista added.

“You have to work that body, I think, over time. That way he doesn’t catch up on you with rounds three, four, and five. I think working that body early would pay off quite a bit.

“It showed in that O’Malley fight. Sean kicked him in the last round, and he just rubbed his stomach like he was hungry. Just ran back and you could tell it hurt.

“I think if you start early on that, it’ll pay dividends in the end,” Bautista said of working the body.