Sean O’Malley Reveals the “Only Thing” Preventing His Fight Against Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O’Malley, also known as “Sugar,” is fresh off a dominant unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera at UFC 299. It was his first bantamweight title defense, and he’s already looking ahead to his next opponent. While initially considering a fight with Ilia Topuria in Spain, O’Malley has now set his sights on Merab Dvalishvili.

In a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow podcast, O’Malley discussed his next title defense. He reiterated his intention to face Dvalishvili later this year. However, there’s one catch: the fight needs to take place in the United States.

O’Malley explained, “I’m trying to get it booked ASAP. The only issue is, some of the next pay-per-views aren’t in the country, and I’m not fighting out of the country. But I’m ready to go, I’m wanting to book a fight ASAP… God, I just want to hit Merab with that knee, boom, flatline him”.

Merab Dvalishvili, on the other hand, has been hard at work, sharing various skits on social media while waiting for his return. Although the UFC schedule beyond June remains uncertain, fans can expect more humorous skits from Dvalishvili in the meantime.

Sean O’Malley’s decision to grant Dvalishvili the next title shot sets the stage for an exciting matchup. With both fighters eager to prove themselves, the anticipation for this bantamweight clash is building. Stay tuned for further updates as we await the official announcement of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

Sean O’Malley’s fighting style

Sean O’Malley is a versatile mixed martial artist with a unique fighting style. Let’s break down the key components of his approach:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ):
- Despite being primarily known for his striking, Sean O’Malley has a brown belt in BJJ. He competes in high-level grappling tournaments and has demonstrated his grappling skills outside the UFC.
- Notable achievements include submitting Takanori Gomi at a Quintet event in December 2019.
Wrestling:
- O’Malley has excellent defensive wrestling abilities. While he doesn’t showcase takedowns often due to his knockout power, he can stuff takedowns effectively.
- Defending takedowns is crucial for maintaining his striking game, and O’Malley competes well in this aspect.

3. Striking:

O’Malley’s striking statistics are impressive. As of September 2021, he leads the entire UFC roster with 8.37 strikes landed per minute and outstrikes opponents by 4.94 strikes per round.
His striking accuracy stands at 62.8%, making him a dangerous striker in the bantamweight division.