UFC bantamweight champion “Suga” Sean O’Malley will likely face Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili next. Even though Dvalishvili revealed the fight’s set for UFC 306, O’Malley has stated otherwise. Nonetheless, O’Malley sees Dvalishvili as the next contender for the title.
O’Malley is 6th on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. On the other hand, Dvalishvili has the second-longest active winning streak in the division. Thus making it an exciting fight to watch. In his recent appearance on Bradley Martyn‘s Raw Talk, O’Malley previewed his matchup with the Machine.
I should be able to put his [Merab Dvalishvili] lights out. It’s usually the wrestlers that I could put their lights out. Chito [Marlon Vera] didn’t try to wrestle me once, couldn’t, didn’t, you know, obviously didn’t put his lights out, beat the out of him for 25 minutes but didn’t put his lights out. Aljo [Aljamain Sterling] tried to wrestle me, got knocked out two rounds, so I know I can knock Merab out.
Sean O’Malley via Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk
O’Malley prefers a knockout over Dvalishvili to a 5-round dominant decision that he had against Marlon Vera at UFC 299. The Montana native outstruck Vera throughout the fight. He even landed a brutal knee that would’ve knocked out any other bantamweight in the UFC.
Even though Dvalishvili is next for O’Malley, there is a chance Jose Aldo could be next for the champion. Aldo had an impressive showing at UFC 301. Moreover, Chael Sonnen made a case for Aldo’s title shot. In addition to Aldo and Dvalishvili, several other contenders wait in the wings for a title shot.
Sean O’Malley speaks on the stacked bantamweight division
The UFC is the premier MMA promotion in the world. There are superstars in each division of the promotion. However, no other division has more superstars than bantamweight and lightweight. The bantamweight division is arguably the best division across promotions.
Sean O’Malley (Image via: IMAGO)For context, the 135lbs champions in PFL and ONE FC are Patchy Mix and Demetrious Johnson, respectively. Nonetheless, neither the PFL nor ONE FC has a bantamweight roster comparable to the UFC. Sean O’Malley spoke of the stacked nature of the division in his recent appearance on Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk.
You know, Merab’s [Dvalishvili] next. I don’t know when, I don’t know where. Merab is a tough fight. Every, you know, Jose Aldo could potentially be after that, a tougher fight. Cory Sandhagen, Umar [Nurmagomedov]. It’s like I have absolute just murderers waiting to fight me.
Sean O’Malley via Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk
O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup Aldo vs. O’Malley would be a striking fan’s delight. Moreover, Sandhagen vs. O’Malley would most likely be the most competitive. Furthermore, Nurmagomedov vs. O’Malley has all the makings of a potential Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov II.
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