Fresh off his inaugural title defense with a dominant victory over Marlon Vera at UFC 299, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is eager for his next challenge against Merab Dvalishvili. However, O’Malley is adamant about one condition – the fight must take place in the United States.
With his sights set on another training camp and a swift return to the octagon, O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is keen to secure the right pay-per-view event for his showdown with Dvalishvili. Despite his readiness to compete, O’Malley is discerning about the location of his next bout.
“I’m trying to book it. I’m trying to get it booked ASAP,” O’Malley revealed on his TimboSugarShow podcast. “The only issue is that some of the next pay-per-views aren’t in the country, and I’m not fighting out of the country – not necessarily because I don’t want to. I don’t want to, but they have other people that take other places. But I’m ready to go. I’m f*cking wanting to book a fight ASAP.”
UFC champion Sean O’Malley on delay for Merab Dvalishvili title bout: ‘I’m not fighting out of the country’ https://t.co/nVuaoXrtNT
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 26, 2024
Anticipation is palpable as O’Malley prepares to confront Dvalishvili’s formidable wrestling prowess. Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has established himself as a force to be reckoned with, showcasing dominance over his opponents with his grappling skills, notably in his recent victory over Henry Cejudo at UFC 298.
O’Malley is undaunted by the challenge and envisions a striking display that will disrupt Dvalishvili’s rhythm.
“God, I just want to hit him with that knee: Boom – flatline him,” O’Malley expressed. “After his Henry (Cejudo) fight, he’s like, ‘Man, I was just having so much fun in there, didn’t even feel like a fight.’ I need to make him feel like, ‘OK, it’s not that fun. I’m getting f*cking punched at a distance, and I can’t really close. This isn’t fun.’
“Henry fight was fun because Henry – I mean, he did crack him once, but he was just able to grab him, take him down, grab, take him down, punch him. I need to make it not fun – not enjoyable to be in there.”
As O’Malley awaits the perfect opportunity to lock horns with Dvalishvili, MMA fans eagerly anticipate the spectacle of these two formidable athletes colliding in the cage, with the champion’s unwavering resolve setting the stage for an enthralling battle on U.S. soil.
Sarah’s View:
Fresh off his triumphant title defense, Sean O’Malley eagerly anticipates his next challenge against Merab Dvalishvili. However, O’Malley insists that the bout must occur in the United States, emphasizing his preference for domestic fights. With his eyes set on the right pay-per-view event, O’Malley remains discerning about the location of his next match. Despite the formidable wrestling skills of Dvalishvili, O’Malley envisions a striking showcase to disrupt his opponent’s rhythm. As anticipation builds for their collision in the cage, O’Malley’s steadfast resolve sets the stage for an exhilarating battle on home soil, with fans eagerly awaiting the spectacle of these two skilled athletes facing off in the octagon.
