Sean O’Malley hasn’t forgotten his loss. And now, he is back with a vengeance. Going up against Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley lost his title in a significantly dominating win for Dvalishvili. However, as UFC 316 approaches, ‘Suga’ seems to be utterly confident about turning things around drastically. Eyeing to reclaim his title, O’Malley is now oozing confidence, believing that he can ‘break’ Dvalishvili inside the octagon.
In a recent interaction with Jim Rome, O’Malley detailed his routine prior to UFC 316. Reflecting on his training, the former champion mentioned that he has been focusing primarily on grappling. Moreover, he pointed out that the Georgian was vulnerable to being knocked out. And that was exactly what he was planning to do.
“It’s been a lot of grappling. That’s all we’ve been doing… I gotta break the machine. I gotta beat him… I know I can beat Merab. He’s open to getting knocked out. I’m very confident that I can put his lights out,” O’Malley stated.
🗣️ Sean O’Malley:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 29, 2025
“It’s been a lot of grappling. That’s all we’ve been doing…
I gotta break the machine. I gotta beat him… I know I can beat Merab. He’s open to getting knocked out. I’m very confident that I can put his lights out.” 👀
🎥 @jimromepic.twitter.com/CrgR4JNqWv
Back when the two fighters met, Dvalishvili had almost a one-sided victory. Controlling O’Malley on the ground for a significant amount of time, the Georgian secured his title. Thus, it is no wonder ‘Suga’ is concentrating more on grappling this time. Meanwhile, on the contrary, Dvalishvili seems to be ready for a striking battle!
Merab Dvalishvili Open For Striking Exchange With Sean O’Malley
In the manner in which Dvalishvili dominated O’Malley last time, it is expected that ‘Suga’ will come prepared. And thus, Dvalishvili knows fully well that his takedown attempts might be thwarted this time by O’Malley. However, the Georgian is not at all worried about the same. Instead, he wants to accept the challenge and go for a striking showdown with the former champion to prove his mettle.
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“He[Sean] stopped my takedowns, and if he stops my takedowns now, I’m planning to strike with him and challenge my striking with another top opponent. I’m ready for a very strong Sean O’Malley, and I’m also looking for a finish in this fight,” Dvalishvili stated while speaking to Kevin Iole.
Merab Dvalishvili reveals he's planning to strike with Sean O'Malley if his takedowns are stopped. 💥
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 28, 2025
"He[Sean] stopped my takedowns, and if he stops my takedowns now, I'm planning to strike with him and challenge my striking with another top opponent. I'm ready for a very… pic.twitter.com/N2E3ipbD4h
Thus, with the situation heating up, the upcoming UFC 316 main event seems to be a banger.
Also Read: Team Merab Dvalishvili Shrugs Off Injury Concerns As UFC 316 Rematch Approaches
