Sean O’Malley’s recent loss to Merab Dvalishvili in the bantamweight title fight has been a hot topic in the MMA community. The bout headlined the UFC’s debut at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a visually stunning event that coincided with Mexican Independence Day. While Dvalishvili walked away with a decisive win, O’Malley’s camp has fueled controversy by suggesting the decision should have gone the other way.
UFC Legend Matt Serra Dismisses Sean O’Malley’s Excuses After Title Loss
O’Malley himself reignited the debate after reviewing the fight and posting on social media that he should have retained his title. But UFC Hall of Famer Matt Serra strongly disagreed, calling the excuses unnecessary and giving full credit to Dvalishvili for a dominant performance.
“What [Merab Dvalishvili] did to ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley, you hear afterwards? Well, you know, maybe O’Malley had that main event jitters,” Serra said during an appearance on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s podcast. “Maybe, he’s a little flat. Or maybe he got fu**ing Merab on his a*s like he always does. Maybe he expected Merab to come at him exactly the way he did and he could do two things about it, jack sh*t…He couldn’t do sh*t about it.”
Serra Criticizes O’Malley’s Coaching Team
Serra didn’t hold back when addressing the role of Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, in the controversy. Welch had publicly supported his fighter’s claims about deserving the decision, a stance Serra found unproductive.
“Tim Welch is scratching his fu**ing ginger head, ‘Oh, no way. You should have won. We’re almost through it, we’re almost there, ‘Suga’. But, give me a raise, please.’ Hey, fu*k off.” Serra explained.
The Hall of Famer’s comments highlight the importance of accountability in the sport. While O’Malley and his team reflect on their next steps, Dvalishvili basks in his well-earned victory, cementing himself as a force in the bantamweight division.
