Merab Dvalishvili is on top of the world. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
(USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con / Reuters)
Merab Dvalishvili has taken the bantamweight reins and run with them since claiming the UFC title against Sean O’Malley this past September, with plenty of banter being volleyed between the two camps.
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Now Dvalishvili and O’Malley are set to run things back at UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark, New Jersey — and the rivals have been surprisingly cordial in recent encounters despite their fiery history.
“He’s funny, he’s cute, and he’s a good fighter too,” Dvalishvili said Tuesday on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I have only positive feelings [about O’Malley], other than he was talking stupid about my friend Aljamain Sterling.
“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 a different guy now. Good for him, and good for me too, how everything happened. Life is good, the camp is good. I’m grateful for everything.”
Regardless of how personal the beef with O’Malley became during the build-up to their first fight at UFC 306, Dvalishvili maintains there was never any real disdain for the colorful American on his side. However, the same can’t be said for O’Malley’s head coach Tim Welch, who drew Dvalishvili’s ire for his pre-fight and in-fight antics during that September title bout.
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Since the rematch was announced, O’Malley and Welch both spoke on their “TimboSugarShow” podcast and sang Dvalishvili’s praises. Any bad blood from O’Malley’s side has seemingly dissipated, as evidenced by his Monday conversation with Uncrowned.
Yet as nice as it’s been to hear praise from his challenger this time around, Dvalishvili isn’t sure how to feel.
“It was weird because they were talking so nice to me,” Dvalishvili said. “Of course, everybody likes compliments, but it was a weird feeling. I feel like a friend with them. Even Tim, 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.
“I don’t hate Sean O’Malley, I just want to fight with him. Tim, he did make big mistakes. He should be a professional coach, but he’s not a professional coach. He tried to cheat. He’s a cheater coach. He tried to disrespect [me], and that’s why I was talking trash. That’s what happened.
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“I’m a professional fighter, and I made this mistake only one time when I had my debut in UFC. I looked at my opponent and I was like, ‘I don’t want to punch you,'” Dvalishvili added. “After I get some controversial loss like this, I learned. I don’t think I’m going to make mistakes, even if I like my opponent. I will be professional, and I’ll be the same guy, and I’ll fight hard.”
Dvalishvili’s rematch with O’Malley will mark the second title defense for the Georgian champion after notching his first in a hard-fought unanimous decision over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January.
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O’Malley, meanwhile, has been on the mend after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum following his title loss.
Dvalishvili, 34, has maintained a busy schedule as a fighter and plans to stick to it as a champion. That’s one of the main reasons he doesn’t see a problem with O’Malley getting an immediate title shot rematch.
“I understand why people say what they say, but I think I’ll be busy anyway,” Dvalishvili said. “So I’m going to fight O’Malley. Me, I don’t look at it as an easy fight. We know he has knockout power. I’m not looking at this fight as easy, actually. It’s not like that. I don’t want to forget I was training hard for when I fought him the first time. Then, I was game.
Merab Dvalishvili was all over Sean O’Malley from the opening horn at UFC 306. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Christian Petersen via Getty Images)
“O’Malley, he hits hard. Even when he just touched me a little bit, I felt his power. 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.
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“I’m happy. I think a lot of people criticized O’Malley getting a rematch,” Dvalishvili added. “I think he deserves it, and I want to find out too. He made lots of excuses after the fight, and now he did surgery, and I know he will make adjustments and he will change game plans.
It’s going to be a completely different battle this time around, but as O’Malley famously said, “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.”
Dvalishvili seemed somewhat optimistic about O’Malley’s chances in the rematch after spending 25 minutes in the Octagon together. However, the stakes are high for O’Malley as losing twice to the same UFC champion could leave him in career limbo.
From Dvalishvili’s perspective, he is feeling more relaxed with the roles reversed. He understands that both sides of the rivalry will be looking to make a statement in their own ways at UFC 316.
“This is a good opportunity for Sean because, as I mentioned, he’s facing the same opponent,” Dvalishvili remarked. “He will make adjustments based on our last fight. By focusing solely on me this time, he can really hone in on his game plan. I believe this is his chance to redeem his loss.”
“I also want to showcase my striking abilities. My aim is to finish him, whether it’s through TKO or knockout. I am looking forward to an exciting fight.”