Demetrious Johnson, former UFC flyweight champion, shared advice with Sean O’Malley ahead of his bantamweight title defense against Merab Dvalishvili. In a video posted on his Mighty YouTube channel on June 3, 2025, Johnson praised O’Malley’s teep kick, noting its potential to counter Dvalishvili’s aggressive style.
Johnson’s Tactical Insight
Johnson highlighted O’Malley’s teep kick after sparring with him, stating:
“We did 3 rounds, that fuking teep [kick] is dangerous. He hit me with it and I was ‘Oh, that’s your move right there’, that fuking teep. The same move that hurt Merab in the last fight. And I think looking at this fight with him versus Merab, it’s going to come down to, can Sean break ‘The Machine’? Or does ‘The Machine’ run over Sean? That’s where I think that fight is going to play out.”
He referenced Dvalishvili’s fight against Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 221 in March 2023, where Yan’s teep kick briefly slowed Dvalishvili’s pressure. Johnson’s advice suggests O’Malley could use this technique to manage distance and counter Dvalishvili’s wrestling.
Sean O’Malley, born October 24, 1994, in Helena, Montana, is a former UFC bantamweight champion with an 18-2 record. He won the title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023 via second-round knockout and defended it against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March 2024. O’Malley lost the belt to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024, ending his seven-fight unbeaten streak. Known for precise striking, O’Malley debuted in the UFC in 2017. His other loss was to Vera in 2020 due to a leg injury.
Merab Dvalishvili, born January 10, 1991, in Tbilisi, Georgia, is the UFC bantamweight champion with an 19-4 record. He won the title by defeating O’Malley at UFC 306, extending his win streak to 12 fights, including victories over Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo, and Jose Aldo. Nicknamed “The Machine” for his relentless wrestling and cardio, Dvalishvili debuted in the UFC in 2017. His losses include two knockouts early in his career.
Demetrious Johnson, born August 13, 1986, in Madisonville, Kentucky, is a former UFC flyweight champion with a 25-4-1 record. He held the title from 2012 to 2018, defending it 11 times, a UFC record. Renowned for technical mastery, Johnson now competes in ONE Championship, winning the flyweight title in 2022. He trains at AMC Pankration in Washington and shares analysis on his YouTube channel.
O’Malley is scheduled to defend his bantamweight title against Dvalishvili, with UFC President Dana White confirming the matchup in May 2025. While the exact date is unconfirmed as of June 4, 2025, speculation points to UFC 319 in August 2025, based on UFC’s scheduling patterns. Dvalishvili’s wrestling-heavy approach contrasts with O’Malley’s striking, making Johnson’s teep kick advice a focal point.
The teep kick, a front push kick, helps maintain distance and disrupt an opponent’s rhythm, especially against pressure fighters like Dvalishvili. Johnson’s observation draws from his sparring with O’Malley and Dvalishvili’s vulnerability to similar strikes in past fights.
Johnson sees the fight as a clash of styles, questioning whether O’Malley can halt Dvalishvili’s relentless pace or if Dvalishvili’s pressure will overpower O’Malley. Dvalishvili averages 4.6 takedowns per 15 minutes, per UFC Stats, challenging O’Malley’s 61% takedown defense. O’Malley’s 6.2 significant strikes per minute could exploit Dvalishvili’s 46% striking defense if he keeps range.
Johnson’s credibility as a former champion and analyst strengthens his advice. His Mighty YouTube channel, with over 500,000 subscribers as of June 2025, is a trusted source for fight breakdowns, making his input valuable for O’Malley’s preparation.
The O’Malley-Dvalishvili bout will test whether O’Malley’s teep kick can neutralize Dvalishvili’s wrestling. A victory for O’Malley would cement his title reign, while a Dvalishvili win could crown a new champion, given his dominant streak.
