The next chapter in Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley’s feud will go down at UFC 316.
After unseating the American from the bantamweight throne in 2024, Dvalishvili will now defend his title against O’Malley in a rematch.
Their second dance headlines UFC 316 at Newark’s Prudential Center on Saturday, June 7, where another bantamweight title fight will also take place in the form of Julianna Pena’s defense against Kayla Harrison.
In the main event, Dvalishvili is tasked with beating O’Malley for the second time in just eight months. But the pair’s interactions date far beyond the lead-up to their first showdown.
In fact, ‘The Machine’ had his sights set on ‘Sugar’ right at the start of his record-breaking win streak.
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Merab Dvalishvili called out Sean O’Malley after his very first UFC victory
After Dvalishvili’s difficult 0-2 start in the UFC, he finally got on the board in September 2018.
At a UFC Fight Night event in Moscow, the Georgian fighter shared the cage with Terrion Ware, who was two fights removed from a decision defeat to O’Malley.
Ware fell to the same fate against Dvalishvili, who used his time on the microphone post-fight to call out one of the promotion’s most-hyped undefeated prospects – ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley.
“Sean O’Malley, keep smoking, and I’ll keep training, and we’ll see who’s better.”
Dvalishvili later expanded on the callout during a backstage media scrum, showing respect for O’Malley and his abilities.
“He’s a great fighter, and I want to fight with great guys,” Dvalishvili said. “I’m not scared of anybody. And I know I can stop this guy. I’m not scared for loss. I want to show good fight with everyone.
“I want to fight. I can fight any position – stand-up, ground-and-pound. I’m a good fighter. That’s all I want. That’s why I wanted Sean O’Malley, because he’s a great fighter.”
Merab Dvalishvili has another chance to ‘stop’ Sean O’Malley
Almost everything went Dvalishvili’s way the first time around O’Malley. Perhaps the only negative for the Georgian was the lack of a finish, as he’d predicted six years prior.
That’s something the Georgian is looking to rectify in the rematch at UFC 316.
And more than just a finish, Dvalishvili suggested during the UFC 316 Countdown show that he could look to stop the fight in O’Malley’s wheelhouse.
“He’s always looking for a finish,” Dvalishvili said.
“He wants to knock you out. I’m just gonna strike and knock him out.”
Having been largely outgrappled at UFC 306 and had limited opportunities to search for a knockout blow, O’Malley would no doubt welcome more stand-up exchanges.
Whether or not ‘The Machine’ will follow through on his striking tease, however, remains to be seen.