UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has called out Merab Dvalishvili as his next opponent, despite previously expressing interest in fighting featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Sean O’Malley‘s decision is clear. He’s got his sights set on Merab Dvalishvili.
At UFC 299, O’Malley was on fire. He dominated Marlon Vera, keeping his UFC bantamweight title. After his victory, he was quick to call out Ilia Topuria, the new featherweight champ. He then added, “If you guys want me to knockout Merab, I’ll do that too.”
Fast forward a week, and O’Malley’s focus has shifted. He’s now calling out Dvalishvili. He’s hinting at a “legendary” 2025.
“I WANT MARAB. 2025 will be legendary ✌” – Sean O’Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) March 15, 2024
Dvalishvili is on a roll, with a 10-fight winning streak. Dana White, UFC CEO, even suggested Dvalishvili as the next obvious opponent for O’Malley. This comes after Dvalishvili’s domination over former champ Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. Despite this, O’Malley’s been vocal about wanting to face Topuria before UFC 299 or in a boxing superfight.
Dvalishvili’s not happy. He responded to O’Malley’s callout on Friday, annoyed at the idea of waiting another year for a title shot.
“I have been waiting for this callout for 7 years.. but who is Marab ??? Dude .. review my name lessons I gave Henry… MERAB! And guess you need another year to prepare for the machine” – Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) March 15, 2024
When they finally face off, it’s gonna be big. Whether it’s this year or next, their fight is one of the most anticipated. Their status in the bantamweight division and the rivalry between O’Malley and Dvalishvili’s teams adds to the hype.