Wrestling stalwart Gable Steveson is impressed with Merab
Dvalishvili’s gas tank.
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Dvalishvili will look to defend his bantamweight title in a rematch
with Sean
O’Malley in the main event at UFC 316
on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Stevenson recently made a guest appearance to train with
Dvalishvili’s team ahead of the championship bout. The 2020 Olympic
gold medalist had high praise for the UFC bantamweight champ.
Stevenson considers Dvalishvili a standout athlete and wishes him
luck for Saturday night.
“Merab’s just different,” Steveson said on UFC 316 Embedded. “You can tell when guys are
different and they can prevail in their sport. Merab’s got that
touch, and I hope he can do it again next Saturday. Look at him,
he’s not even tired. He’s doing all this punching and kicking. He’s
fine.”
Dvalishvili’s coach, John Wood,
added that the Georgian is the only one in the gym who tires him
out while holding pads. Dvalishvili won the title against O’Malley
last year and defended it against Umar
Nurmagomedov earlier this year. “Suga” will need to find an
answer to Dvalishvili’s gas tank, his most important skillset in
both of his title wins.
Meanwhile, Steveson suffered the biggest upset loss in NCAA history against Oklahoma
State’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the finals this past March. The
25-year-old is rumored to be considering a move to MMA at some
point.