Why UFC 306’s O’Malley–Dvalishvili Fight Paused in Round One
The UFC 306 bantamweight title fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili briefly paused about 10 seconds into Round 1 after Dvalishvili stopped and called out O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch. Referee Herb Dean addressed both before the bout resumed. MMA Fighting’s report covered the exchange.
The 10-Second Stoppage
At the start of the fight, Merab Dvalishvili pointed toward Welch and spoke to Dean. The brief pause followed Dvalishvili stopping the action; it was not a stoppage called because O’Malley’s corner entered the fight.
The Coach’s Explanation
Footage released by the UFC later showed Welch calling out to Dvalishvili to be patient. Dean told Dvalishvili to focus on the fight and cautioned Welch about excessive coaching. At the end of the first round, Dean again addressed Welch about corner instructions. MMA Fighting reviewed the released video.
Impact on the Fight
The pause lasted only seconds and did not change the result: Dvalishvili won a unanimous decision to claim the bantamweight title, with scorecards of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47. The UFC’s official scorecards record the result.
The Aftermath
Welch later explained that he had called out to Dvalishvili, while Dvalishvili said the comments distracted him. MMA Fighting reported both sides’ accounts of the exchange.
Looking Forward
The moment is now documented in the UFC’s released footage and in post-fight accounts from both sides. It remains a brief and unusual incident from the opening round of the title fight.
The opening pause did not determine the championship result. Dvalishvili controlled the five-round contest and won the bantamweight title by unanimous decision.
Citations:
[1] https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mma/breaking-sean-omalley-ufc-306-33671443
[2] https://sports.yahoo.com/norma-dumont-unsurprised-ufc-306-175034327.html
[3] https://www.si.com/fannation/boxing/sean-o-malley-issues-a-statement-hours-after-ufc-306-loss-to-merab-dvalishvili-01j7vjvqjhv5
[4] https://bloodyelbow.com/2024/09/17/its-gonna-be-a-while-sean-omalley-provides-an-update-on-when-he-will-return-following-his-title-loss-at-ufc-306/
[5] https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-merab-dvalishvili-issues-social-media-statement-title-win-explains-kissing-sean-o-malley-i-decided-show-daddy-was
[6] https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-sean-o-malley-s-coach-stunned-merab-dvalishvili-s-reaction-mid-fight-comments-he-freaked-out
[7] https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-henry-cejudo-has-one-condition-to-help-sean-omalley-redeem-stock-after-humiliating-ufc-306-loss-to-merab-dvalishvili/
[8] https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-alex-pereira-dragged-into-sean-omalley-henry-cejudo-beef-as-ufcs-olympian-exposes-bias/
[9] https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/1/10/24340567/watch-newly-released-video-of-tim-welch-distracting-merab-dvalishvili-at-ufc-306
[10] https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/9/17/24246443/merab-dvalishvili-head-coach-reveals-what-shouted-sean-omalley-coach-tim-welch-during-fight-ufc-306
