The UFC has a growing star problem and the victory of Merab Dvalishvili stresses that

Merab Dvalishvili is clearly one of the best fighters in the world.

Dvalishvili, 34, was back in action in the main event of the UFC 316 event on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. The Georgian star was looking for his second defense of the rooster weight title, after winning the division belt with a victory over Sean O’malley last September and defended it with a victory over Umar Nurmagomedov in January.

O’malley was a questionable title challenger, to say the least. O’malley is irrefutable one of the best rooster weights in sport, but. Dvalishvili had already beaten O’malley less than a year ago and convincingly. He objectively deserved the opportunity. And again, the UFC gave it. It is easy to understand why they did: they wanted him to win.

For what? Because the UFC is in the middle of a significant stars deficit for the moment.

Dvalishvili was fresh out of a victory in January on Umar Nurmagomedov, but O’malley, meanwhile, had not fought since his loss against Dvalishvili last September.

The precipitated title drawn towards O’malley puts a ugly stroke on what seems to be a disastrous lack of real stars in terms of charisma and general public attraction.

For example, Conor McGregor apparently lost contact with sport completely, instead Its views of the public service in his country of origin. The UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is pending completely disdainful Of a potential fight with the acting champion Tom Aspinall, and seems to be closer to his retirement himself. It gets worse. The former UFC average weight champion, Israel Adesanya, made consecutive defeats. Former light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira – until recently one of the biggest sports stars – has a defeat against Magomed Ankalaev.

Apart from McGregor, Jones, Adesanya and Pereira, O’Malley could be the largest star on the UFC list. This is why they gave him a chance of redemption against Dvalishvili to the UFC 316.

Unfortunately for UFC brass, Dvalishvili has spoiled the party again. The Georgian was just as dominant as the first time. He was more dominant. This time, he finished his challenger by submission to the fourth round, rather than winning by decision.

“I am at the top of the world,” said Dvalishvili in his post-combat interview with Joe Rogan. “I come from nothing.”

“Please believe in your dreams and work on your dreams,” he added. “Work, every day, rehearsal. N ° 1 is awakening, training.”

The question is now what is the next step for Dvalishvili. The champion has now won 13 consecutive fights. This sequence includes victories over emblematic fighters like Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, Henry Cejudo and O’malley. On paper, he is one of the two best mixed martial artists.

But that does not equal the power of the stars. This raises the question: at a time when the UFC dies for mainstream attractions, can they make one?

His rivalry with O’malley was their best blow. If O’malley had won the Revenge match of the UFC 316 of the pair, they would be 1-1, which would undoubtedly cause a trilogy fight. However, Dvalishvili did not only reproduce his first victory over the American, he exceeded it, as we covered.

“I didn’t have the impression that it was going to go like that,” said O’malley in his post-combat interview with Rogan. “Merab is a Motherf-Touce.”

The result of the main event of the UFC 316 actually governs O’malley out of the image of the rooster weight title in the foreseeable future, and suggests that the next defenses of the title of Dvalishvili will come against another fighter. There is only one problem. He has already beat the best of the best in rooster weight. This includes O’malley (twice now), Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov and Henry Cejudo.

At this stage, the most deserving competitor of rooster weights is the favorite of Cory Sandhage fans, who is only 1-1 in his last two, after a defeat against Nurmagomedov and a victory over DEIVESON FIGUIRADO.

Dvalishvili, for his part, seems to be ready for this match.

“Cory, I love you,” said the Georgian after his UFC 316 victory. “You’re the man. Let’s go.”

It’s great to hear that Sandhant and Dvalishvili are apparently broken down to fight. Unfortunately, this will not do much to solve the problem of the increasingly obvious stars of the UFC. For all his skills, Dvalishvili is unlikely to become the next star à la carte of promotion, and it is difficult to locate anyone.