Can Sean O’Malley Regain the Bantamweight Championship?
Merab Dvalishvili has looked completely unbeatable during his remarkable 12-fight win streak. After suffocating performances against Jose Aldo, Petr Yan, and Henry Cejudo, Dvalishvili was granted a title shot against then-champion Sean O’Malley. At UFC 306, Merab Dvalishvili captured the Bantamweight Championship after a near-flawless performance against Sean O’Malley. Now, coming off the heels of a win against the then-undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, it seems Dvalishvili will defend his championship against the man he captured the belt from.
Sean O’Malley hasn’t fought since his loss to Dvalishvili back in September of 2024. O’Malley seized Bantamweight gold in 2023 when he knocked out Dvalishvili’s close friend and training partner, Aljamain Sterling. O’Malley was able to defend his championship against Marlon Vera before falling short in his fight against Merab Dvalishvili. However, after Merab Dvalishvili confirmed that a rematch is imminent, Sean O’Malley has a chance at redemption.
Usually, I am not a fan of champions being granted immediate rematches after losing their title. Especially when Sean O’Malley only had one title defense. However, the Bantamweight division does not have many viable challengers for Dvalishvili at the moment. Mix in the UFC’s lack of current stars, and it’s understandable why a fighter of O’Malley’s notoriety is granted a rematch. Sean O’Malley suffered a very obvious decision loss to Dvalishvili in their first bout, but O’Malley still holds a clear striking advantage over the champion.
Throughout the first fight with Dvalishvili, O’Malley’s striking was a non-factor. O’Malley struggled severely with getting any consequential strikes off on Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili, who objectively has the best cardio in the entire UFC, used his constant pressure and suffocating wrestling to prohibit any distance O’Malley could create for effective striking. Sean O’Malley did, however, find an area in Dvalishvili’s game he could exploit in the rematch when he landed a deep kick to the champion's body in the fifth round. The kick hurt Dvalishvili, sending him retreating, but it was too little too late as time expired in the final round.
“Suga” has a tall task ahead of him. Merab Dvalishvili is one of the best fighters on the planet. With offensive pressure that has never been seen in the UFC, mixed with sublime wrestling, there might not be a better fighter in Bantamweight history. O’Malley, however, is not to be counted out. O’Malley possesses serious one-punch-power that can end the fight at any moment. He needs to find the right shot. O’Malley has admitted he didn’t perform like himself at UFC 306, and it was clear as day. Sean O’Malley knows what Dvalishvili brings to the table now. He has felt the pressure, strength, and durability that Merab Dvalishvili possesses. Sean O’Malley can’t be gun-shy and has to use the world-class striking that won him UFC gold in the first place if he wants to win it again.
