Ben Askren is doubtful about Sean O’Malley’s choice to have a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, although he acknowledges O’Malley`s potential to win.
Dvalishvili defeated O’Malley and won the title by a unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September. Their rematch is scheduled for June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Askren believes it would have been better for O’Malley to fight a different opponent with a different fighting style before facing Dvalishvili again, especially after a loss.
“I think this might not be the best decision,” Askren commented on the Funky & The Champ podcast with Daniel Cormier. “If Merab defeats him again, O’Malley`s appeal could decrease significantly. People might think he’s not a top contender until the champion changes, making a third title shot unlikely.”
“O’Malley could have fought some lower-ranked fighters, particularly those who are not strong at takedowns. Against such opponents, he appears to be a true superstar. He has an exciting and diverse striking game, and he could have looked very impressive and built more hype for a bigger fight later. But now, the general feeling seems to be, ‘We just watched this fight, it wasn`t close. Why are we seeing it again?’”
O’Malley has stated that he has made significant life adjustments since his loss to Dvalishvili, including taking a break from social media. He feels he is now in a much better physical and mental state as he prepares for his fourth UFC championship fight.
Dvalishvili was successful in their first match due to his pressure and wrestling skills. Askren suggests that O’Malley should have spent more time focusing on improving his wrestling before taking this rematch.
“I wish Sean had dedicated more time to improving his wrestling skills, but he is a dynamic striker with knockout power,” Askren noted. “However, Merab has looked almost unbeatable in his recent fights.”
