UFC released footage of Merab Dvalishvili calling trainer Sean O’Malley “unprofessional” after warning Herb Dean mid-fight

The UFC has shed some light on what transpired in the somewhat strange fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.

O’Malley and Dvalishvili quit during the lightweight title fight UFC 306 last year, which the Georgian won by unanimous decision to become the new king of 135 pounds.

O'Malley hopes that Dvalishvili will defeat Nurmagomedov — O’Malley hopes that Dvalishvili will defeat NurmagomedovCredit: Getty

However, the contest was marred by a series of strange incidents in Rounds 1 and 2.

Just minutes after the first bell rang, referee Herb Dean called a temporary halt to proceedings after Dvalishvili began yelling at O’Malley head coach Tim Welch, who was sitting cageside.

Apparently, Dean should have warned Dvalishvili about the comments he made to O’Malley’s corner in the opening seconds.

He also told Welch that an opponent’s trainer has no right to call out an opponent’s name during fights, and the new footage shows exactly what happened.

The footage shows Welch yelling instructions to Merab, trying to confuse him during the opening stanza.

Welch appears to have changed his voice and accent, adding to the confusion in hopes of swinging the fight in O’Malley’s favor.

“Merabi, you might have to be patient my friend!” Welch can be heard saying.

The footage shows Merab going berserk at Welch’s antics, yelling at him, causing Dean to stop the fight.

“Merab, don’t start this!” says Dean Dvalishvili.

“Don’t talk to him. This is my job.”

Welch put on an accent and shouted instructions to Merabu, trying to push him awayCredit: X@mma_orbit

Merab went berserk, yelling at Welch from inside the cageCredit: X@mma_orbit

Herb Dean stopped the fight and told Merab to stop yelling at O'Malley's corner — Herb Dean stopped the fight and told Merab to stop yelling at O’Malley’s cornerCredit: X@mma_orbit

The camera then switches to former 135-pound champion Aljamain Sterling sitting in Merab’s corner.

“Herb, he’s talking to him!” Alyo shouts. “He’s talking to him, Herb!”

“Do your job, I’ll do mine,” Dean replies.

Speaking to the media after the fight, new champion Dvalishvili explained the situation, saying that he warned Welch to be quiet during the fight and Dean also warned Welch about comments he made in the opening seconds of the fight.

“I was and am fighting, I’m a professional fighter, I’m focused,” said Dvalishvili about the strange incident.

“This has never happened to me. I never pay attention to the other angle, but Tim’s voice was very familiar because he was doing the same thing (with Sterling). He was doing the same thing, he was being very disrespectful, “Merab, you have to go,” he was talking crap at me.

The Georgian apologized for losing his cool and Dean warned corner O'Malley not to talk to his opponent — The Georgian apologized for losing his cool and Dean warned corner O’Malley not to talk to his opponentCredit: X@mma_orbit

Sterling was sitting in Merab's corner yelling at Dean to alert the other team — Sterling was sitting in Merab’s corner yelling at Dean to alert the other teamCredit: X@mma_orbit

“I tell him, ‘Stop it,’ and no one told him to stop. He just kept doing it. If you do the same thing in basketball or football, you get suspended, but I don’t think so here. But I said to the referee, “I’m sorry.” I’m a professional, it’s my job, but I said, “I’m sorry,” and after that I think he stopped it. After that, I don’t care.”

“It really caught me off guard,” Welch said O’Malley’s YouTube channel subsequently.

“Literally, we sat down, I was very calm, I said, ‘You have to be patient, Merab. You have to be patient, Merab.” Then he starts struggling, he almost had a seizure.”

“So I didn’t know there was a rule that if you have a footnote, it can’t be another guy’s name,” Welch explained. “I told Herb that Merab’s name was in some of our footnotes and he said, ‘No, no, no.’ Didn’t know that. I’d like to see that damn rule.”

However, this was not the only strange incident in the match.

At the end of the second round, Dvalishvili began kissing O’Malley’s upper back.

In the second round, Merab began kissing O'Malley's upper back — In the second round, Merab began kissing O’Malley’s upper back

He broke the lock and O'Malley jumped up and hit him with two seconds left in the round — He broke the lock and O’Malley jumped up and hit him with two seconds left in the round

Dean started yelling at Dvalishvili, which forced the then main rival back to his corner.

O’Malley then got up and punched Dvalishvili before the buzzer sounded to end the round, confusing everyone in the crowd, including the commentary team.

“I don’t know why the referee stopped the fight,” O’Malley said. “Then he kissed me. I don’t know, there was about two or three seconds left in the clock, looking back I’m surprised I even knew that, and then the ref said, “Hey, stop kissing his back.” so he got up thinking the time was up and then i gave him juice once. I was hoping to get him out in time.

“But Alyo got up like he was going to storm the cage like I’d f***** hit him illegally. I don’t think he even realized there was a time on the clock. The judge didn’t support you, he told you to stop doing it.

“Sugar” refused to accept the result of the fight immediately afterwards, insisting that he had won.

He already is expressed a desire to return the gold in a lighter weightbut for now Dvalishvili has other things to do.

Dvalishvili's next opponent is Umar Nurmagomedov, with whom he has bad blood — Dvalishvili’s next opponent is Umar Nurmagomedov, with whom he has bad bloodCredit: Getty

Merab is defending his belt for the first time and will be looking for his 12th straight victory when he takes on undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) in the co-main event of UFC 311: Makhachov vs. Tsarukyan 2 on January 18.

Umar is the older brother of Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov and the cousin of the undefeated former UFC lightweight champion. Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The 29-year-old previously competed in the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

There is definitely no love lost between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov, who had a backstage spat back in December during the build-up to their upcoming fight.

They were filmed verbally attacking each other and had to be separated by security after getting in each other’s faces, creating great hype for the long-awaited contest.