After his knockout loss to Sean O’Malley, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has called for a rematch, but in case he does not get this opportunity, he strongly advocates for his teammate Merab Dvalishvili, who is on a nine-fight win streak, to be the next title contender.
Former UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, has expressed his interest in a rematch with Sean O’Malley. However, given the uncertainty about his chances of securing this match, he would prefer that his friend and teammate, Merab Dvalishvili, gets the next title shot. This request follows Sterling’s defeat to O’Malley at UFC 292 and his subsequent bid for an immediate rematch. Certain hesitations have been expressed on the opposing side though, with Sterling acknowledging that a second tussle with O’Malley might have to be a question of timing. In light of this, he strongly believes that Dvalishvili should be considered as the leading contender in the division.
In a discussion about O’Malley’s prospective opponents on his podcast ‘Weekly Skraps,’ Sterling cites himself as a possible contender. He humorously suggests, “I think there’s only one name that comes to mind, and that’s Aljamain Sterling in the rematch”. However, he quickly adds a serious note, stating that if the rematch doesn’t pan out, then Dvalishvili should undoubtedly be given the match. “But if I’m not going to get the rematch, the next guy in line has to be Merab Dvalishvili. Has to be. No. 1 contender. I don’t think any other matchup makes more sense than him.”
Dvalishvili’s current winning streak includes an impressive nine successive victories in the division, with a decisive win over former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan featuring among his recent exploits. Despite his penchant for securing victories, Dvalishvili has made clear in the past that he wouldn’t fight against his friend Sterling. A sentiment that Sterling has reciprocated. However, with the perceived hurdle no longer in place, Sterling is voicing his support for Dvalishvili to be the one taking the next shot at the title.
While Sterling remains unsure about where he stands if Dvalishvili does get the match, he doesn’t rule out the possibility of returning to the bantamweight category or exploring new vistas in the 145-pound division. The UFC, on its part, has yet to make a decision about O’Malley’s next opponent. Although the reigning bantamweight champion would want a rematch with Marlon Vera, his only loss, Sterling contends that only Dvalishvili fits the profile on merit. He expresses his belief that Dvalishvili’s potential to tire out his opponents with repeated takedowns, as exhibited in his duel with Yan, makes him the most intriguing contender for O’Malley. He concludes with the thought that such a matchup could give Dvalishvili a shot at becoming Georgia’s first champion, an accomplishment that would be momentous for “him and his country…and our team.”