UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili isn’t overlooking Sean O’Malley ahead of their UFC 316 rematch on June 7.
It was confirmed by UFC matchmakers last week that the Georgian 135-pound champion’s second title defence will come against the man from whom he claimed the title; a fight which appeared to gain some pushback from fight fans given Dvalishvili’s relatively clear-cut decision win over O’Malley this past September.
And speaking to Ariel Helwani, as noted by MMA Fighting, Dvalishvili said that he expects to be tested to his limit by a fighter generally regarded as among the best strikers in the division.
”I have only have positive feelings, other than he was talking stupid about my friend Aljamain Sterling,” Dvalishvili said.
“I feel bad, actually, for this guy. I stole his jacket, I stole his belt, I stole his fans. I made him humble. He’s different guy now. Good for him, and good for me too, how everything happened. Life is good, camp is good. I’m grateful for everything.”
A recent video published to social media featuring the two title rivals has suggested that any animosity that once existed between the two has now gone, with O’Malley telling Dvalishvili that he was impressed by his performance in his last title bout — a win over the previously unbeaten Umar Nurmagomedov in January.
“It was weird because they were talking so nice to me,” Dvalishvili said. “Of course, everybody likes compliments, but it was weird feeling. I feel like a friend with them. Even Tim [Welch], the guy I don’t like, when he was talking nice, my heart warmed a little bit. Like, no, no, don’t do this, guys. I need to be mad about you. That was a weird feeling.”
And as such, Dvalishvili is very clear about the danger that his opponent represents in the cage.
“O’Malley, he hits hard. Even when he just touched me a little bit, I felt his power,” he explained. “The guy can crack. So I have to be smart and I have to be patient in this fight. I’m sure he will make adjustments and defend the takedowns better, then he will be going forward this time. It’s going to be a totally different fight. Rematches don’t always go like the first fight. It’s going to be different.”
