UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley, known for his striking prowess, recently admitted that he needs to improve his grappling game after his recent fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. During an appearance on Jake Shields’ Fight Back podcast, O’Malley acknowledged that his ground game was a weak point in the fight.
O’Malley, who holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes, emphasized that he is aware of his shortcomings and is committed to improving. “What suks is, I know I can grapple like a motherf**er, but I lost that last fight with Dvalishvili,” O’Malley said. He added that while he has trained with many talented grapplers in his gym, he needs to stay healthy and continue honing his skills.
Sean O’Malley’s Coach Opens up on His Grappling Abilities
Despite his loss, O’Malley remains focused on his upcoming fight against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. He expressed his desire to avenge his defeat against Dvalishvili and prove that he can compete at a high level in all aspects of MMA.
O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, also commented on his grappling abilities, stating that O’Malley has not yet reached his full potential in this area. Welch believes that with continued training and dedication, O’Malley can become a more well-rounded fighter.
As Sean O’Malley prepares for his next fight, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if he can improve his grappling game and achieve his goal of becoming a two-division UFC champion.