Sean O’Malley is getting tired of all the ducking accusations.
‘His Wish Is Granted’
That was to be expected though as the UFC Bantamweight Champion called for a featherweight fight with fellow champ Ilia Topuria following his first title defense over Chito Vera. #1 contender Merab Dvalishvili didn’t like being cut out of the conversation entirely and neither did his fans.
Dvalishvili may have been denied a proper promo at UFC 299, but O’Malley says ‘The Machine’ won’t miss out on the next title shot.
“Merab is f****g next. His wish is granted,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “A lot of people said I’m ducking him. I just really am not ducking that little dude. I like the fight for me. There’s multiple ways to win. I’m excited about the fight now, finally. I was never ducking him. I was just never excited to fight him.”
It’s All Coming Together
The potential fight between O’Malley and Dvalishvili has been brewing for a solid minute now. Dvalishvili started calling for O’Malley as early as 2018, wanting to steal the shine of the then-undefeated star in a classic striker vs. wrestler matchup.
Six years later and the stakes couldn’t be higher between them with bantamweight gold now on the line.
“Now, is it the right time? Just like the Chito rematch,” O’Malley said of potentially fighting Dvalishvili. “Like, the time will come to where it’s the right time to fight certain people. Merab’s next. And [be] careful what you wish for, buddy. Careful what you wish for.”
Earlier this month, Sean O’Malley joked that he’d fight Merab Dvalishvili in 2025, but the champ later cleared up that we’ll likely see him fight again in 2024.
