In a recent interview on Morning Kombat, Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch made a surprising claim about Merab Dvalishvili’s grappling tactics. Welch alleges that Dvalishvili grabs inside his own gloves to strengthen his grip, making it extremely difficult for opponents to break free.
“Merab will grab inside his own gloves,” Welch explained. “Not only is he grabbing his fingers, but if you’re grabbing inside your own gloves and have your hands entangled up, you can stay really, really tight.”
This technique, while not illegal, provides a significant advantage. Welch likened it to grabbing a gi in grappling, allowing for an enormous amount of applied power. He noted they had attempted to discuss this with referee Herb Dean before the fight.
The coach admitted this tactic makes it challenging to devise effective defenses. “It’s going to have to be the basic stuff – a classic wrestling standup where you’re standing up, putting a lot of pressure on the grip with your hips, and then peeling the thumb,” Welch said.
He also suggested more dynamic approaches like rolling to knee bars, transitioning to 50-50 positions, or executing hard switches to force Dvalishvili to separate his hands.
Welch’s comments shed light on the intricate grappling exchanges in the recent O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. They also raise questions about the potential need for rule clarifications regarding fighters gripping their own gloves in grappling situations.
As O’Malley recovers from hip surgery and looks toward a potential rematch, these insights may play a crucial role in developing new strategies to counter Dvalishvili’s formidable grappling game.
Sean O’Malley’s coach addresses “We’re almost done with this” backlash: ‘It was bad how it came out’
Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch has addressed the backlash surrounding his controversial “we’re almost done with this” comment during O’Malley’s recent title fight against Merab Dvalishvili.
In an interview on Morning Kombat, Welch explained that his words were misinterpreted and taken out of context. He clarified that he was trying to encourage O’Malley, who appeared deflated between rounds, by reminding him there were only five minutes left in the fight.
“It was bad how it came out,” Welch admitted. “I can see how it sounded, but I meant to say ‘Hey, we’re almost done with this. You could catch this guy anytime. We have five minutes left.'”
Welch emphasized that he knows O’Malley better than anyone after 12 years of working together and cornering over 25 of his fights. He stated that O’Malley doesn’t respond well to aggressive, high-energy corner work, preferring a calmer approach.
“He doesn’t like someone screaming at him,” Welch said. “He would just be like ‘Shut the f*** up, shut up, let me get my heart rate down, let me think about what’s going on here.'”
The coach also pointed out that despite the criticism of his corner work, O’Malley went on to have his best round in the fifth, dominating Dvalishvili.
Welch defended his coaching style, stating that every athlete is different and requires unique approaches. He emphasized the importance of understanding a fighter’s personality and preferences when providing guidance during a fight.
As O’Malley recovers from hip surgery, Welch expressed confidence in the fighter’s work ethic and competitive nature, predicting a quicker-than-expected return to the octagon, possibly by midsummer.
