Sean O’Malley is gearing up to rewrite history at UFC 316 as he prepares for his highly anticipated rematch with Merab Dvalishvili.
The Las Vegas Sphere debut didn’t go as planned for O’Malley back in September, with a unanimous decision loss against Dvalishvili costing him his title. O’Malley has been open about the torn labrum he suffered just 10 weeks before the fight, undergoing surgery shortly after. Despite the setback, O’Malley is now looking at the bright side, viewing his defeat as a stepping stone to a more impactful rematch on June 7 in Newark, New Jersey.
“After a loss, you can either spiral downwards or rise upwards. I chose the latter. While the last fight didn’t go according to plan, I believe it will only make the upcoming rematch sweeter. Being the underdog will only fuel my motivation to showcase my true capabilities on June 7,” O’Malley shared on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
O’Malley, at 30, was once the shining star of the UFC bantamweight division, but his reign was short-lived with only one successful title defense against Vera in March 2024.
If O’Malley manages to regain the title, he will join the ranks of Dominick Cruz and TJ Dillashaw as one of the few multiple-time bantamweight champions in UFC history. However, the road to his second shot at the title has been met with criticism from fans who feel he doesn’t deserve an immediate rematch with Dvalishvili given his inactivity since the loss.
Despite the backlash, O’Malley has chosen to stay away from social media in 2025 and has a simple message for his detractors: “If you’re upset, don’t tune in.”
“I understand the criticism, but I know what I’m capable of. I wouldn’t have accepted this rematch if I didn’t believe I could defeat Merab,” O’Malley stated confidently.
As O’Malley gears up for the rematch, he is feeling more prepared than ever, having already started intense training sessions two months ahead of UFC 316. He is focused on rectifying his previous performance and is determined to showcase a different outcome this time around.
Despite the challenges he faced after his loss, O’Malley remains optimistic about the future. He is now fully healthy and is looking forward to a long and successful career in the UFC.
“I want to continue fighting for as long as I can. I love this sport and competing. I’m grateful to the UFC for giving me this rematch opportunity,” O’Malley expressed.