Sean O’Malley is confident he will show a much-improved performance when he faces Merab Dvalishvili again.
UFC CEO Dana White announced that O’Malley will challenge Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title at UFC 316 in June. This is a rematch of their UFC 306 fight where Dvalishvili won by a clear decision. However, O’Malley insists this second fight will be different.
“The rematch is official,” O’Malley stated on his YouTube channel. He acknowledged that some fans might not be happy about the rematch. He recalled his victory against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, emphasizing his confidence. O’Malley mentioned issues during his last training camp but avoided making excuses. He stated his current camp is going much better and he is eager to compete.
The decision to grant O’Malley a rematch was criticized by some in the MMA community, as Dvalishvili`s victory in their first fight was decisive. Since then, Dvalishvili has defended his title against Umar Nurmagomedov. O’Malley, on the other hand, has been out of action since his loss to Dvalishvili, undergoing hip surgery and recovery. Despite this, O’Malley says he is already training for the rematch and intends to prove that he was not at his peak in their first encounter.
O’Malley explained that groin pain due to a torn labrum ten weeks before the first fight significantly impacted his training and performance. He admitted it was not ideal to face a top fighter like Dvalishvili under those circumstances.
O’Malley believes that if his current training pace continues, he will be significantly better – around 70 percent improved – in the rematch. He anticipates being more mobile, agile, and in better condition, enabling him to fight at his full potential. He concluded that while he was satisfied with his performance in the first fight considering his condition, he believes the rematch is meant to happen and will make his eventual win even more impressive.
UFC 316 is scheduled for June 7 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
