Sean O'Malley says he has no issues fighting Merab Dvalishvili next if he has to.
Bantamweight champion O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) has been angling for a rematch with Marlon Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) for his first title defense.
He sees it as an opportunity to avenge the lone loss of his career, which came in August 2020 when Vera struck him in his peroneal nerve with a leg kick and finished him by TKO on the ground.
“I remember the first time after we fought, everyone was like, ‘Aren’t you going to ask for a rematch?’ I said, ‘No, no, no – that rematch will happen when it’s supposed to happen,'” O’Malley told The Schmo. “And right now, it’s supposed to happen. This is the next fight. That’s what I want, and I think that’s what’s going to happen, but we’ll see.”
If not Vera, O’Malley says he’s willing to fight anyone – including No. 1 contender Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC). O’Malley won the title by knocking out Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, and is confident he can do the same to his teammate Dvalishvili.
“I’ll fight whoever they want me to fight. I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m scared of Merab,” O’Malley said. “I think Aljo is better than Merab and I know I’m able to knock out Aljo. It is who it is. It’s been like that. People act like I call my shots on all my fights, but I’m going to take who they give me. I think as a business, it makes sense, me vs. ‘Chito,’ to make the most money. He’s coming off a win over Pedro (Munhoz), who I beat in two rounds, but we’ll see.”
