Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling called for a rematch against current champion Sean O’Malley following his win over Mike Grundy at Polaris 25, alleging that O’Malley was ducking top contenders, and suggesting Merab Dvalishvili, a strong performer with a nine-fight win streak, if he doesn’t get the opportunity.
Aljamain Sterling, the ex-UFC bantamweight champion, recently scored a victory in a grappling match at Polaris 25. The ten-minute fight against Mike Grundy, held on a Saturday, saw the duo continually vying for the upper hand without taking too many poor positions. Sterling demonstrated robust takedowns and remarkable grappling skill in interactions and fumbles on the mat. Ultimately, Sterling managed to outperform Grundy, reclaiming some glory after his recent defeat at UFC 292 in a title fight against Sean O’Malley.
Despite being delighted with his grappling match victory, Sterling’s focus soon returned to O’Malley. He addressed the new UFC bantamweight champion with a stern warning. Sterling’s words to the crowd in Wales were unmistakable: “I got a message for Mr. Suga T*** because he’s still that to me. Hey, give me my rematch or fight Merab [Dvalishvili]. It’s that simple. Stop ducking the top contenders and be a man and be a real champion. Fight the best of the best. That’s what I did and now you need to turn around and do the same exact s***. Let’s go.”
Sterling has been outspoken in demanding a rematch against O’Malley since his second-round TKO loss. That defeat marked O’Malley’s record-setting third straight bantamweight title defense. If Sterling isn’t granted an immediate rematch, he wants his friend and co-trainee, Merab Dvalishvili, to get the chance. Dvalishvili, who currently enjoys a nine-fight winning streak, has recently defeated several formidable opponents, including ex-UFC champion Petr Yan and Jose Aldo.
Meanwhile, Sean O’Malley has been seeking a rematch against the only opponent who’s ever defeated him: Chito Vera. Their first clash happened back in 2020. O’Malley envisaged a potential rematch to happen in December during the year-end UFC 296 match. However, with two title fights already on the calendar, he’ll likely have to wait until 2024 to compete again. The picture remains blurry regarding O’Malley’s future opponent. Still, Sterling is hopeful either he will be granted the rematch, or Dvalishvili will receive a coveted opportunity to go for the UFC championship.