Sean O’Malley, the former UFC bantamweight champion, recently spoke about his loss in the rematch at UFC 316. The American fighter lost his title to Merab Dvalishvili in a closely watched fight but showed strength in his response. He thanked supporters and shared plans to take time off, keeping his focus on what’s next.
#UFC316 Merab takes down Sean O Malley pic.twitter.com/hz288xEkTb
— Gamebred (@gamebredKO) June 8, 2025
O’Malley explained his mindset after the fight on his YouTube channel.
“Happiness is a skill,” O’Malley said Tuesday on his YouTube channel. “So for me to be able to go through something like that and then the next Sunday rolls around, Monday rolls around, I don’t feel sad at all – I still feel really happy. I feel a little disappointed in the outcome. I feel a little frustrated, but there’s no sadness inside of me. I’m holding my 14-day-old. … I’ll close my eyes and I’ll picture things like when I started locking up the guillotine, I could’ve done something. I could’ve done this. I could’ve done that. But I’m like, ah, man – there’s nothing I can do about it now. On to the next thought. I’m not sitting in that f*cking thought just letting it unravel and go down a negative hole. I still feel very good.”
He also praised his opponent’s skill and shared his break plans.
“I feel like I got so much better this fight,” O’Malley said. “I feel like I was able to show that that camp. But just being on bottom – and I’ve trained with the best; we train with such good guys … It’s so weird. He just felt so f*cking compact and strong in there. (I feel like) I couldn’t do much. … (He’s the) greatest of all time – greatest bantamweight of all time.” He added, “It’s nice to not think about a fight right now because I do want to just chill for a few weeks,” O’Malley said. “It’s way better. Even if the UFC said, ‘We know what we want to do (with you next),’ I don’t even want to know right now. Just let me chill for five.”
O’Malley reflected on his nerves and confidence.
“I definitely felt a nervous feeling that I’m not used to, just because of how the first fight played out, knowing his cardio is so crazy, knowing if it hits the ground (I might be in trouble). … I had worked the takedown defense so much and I knew I was able to get up,” O’Malley said. “But I was like, ‘I also know there’s a chance this fight plays out the same way it did (last time).’ So in the back, I was more nervous this fight probably than I’ve ever been. You feel vulnerable. You’re in the cage like, ‘This motherfcker grabs a hold of me, there’s a chance I can’t get away from this little fcker.’ … In there, I’m like, ‘I’m gonna knock this motherf*cker out.’ I know, I still know, I can beat Merab. Call it delusional, call it whatever. That’s how I got to where I’m at right now. I know I can still beat Merab.” Via MMAJunkie
O’Malley’s Rise from Underdog to UFC Champion
Sean O’Malley, born in 1994 in Montana, started MMA with a unique striking style. He turned pro in 2015 and joined UFC in 2017 after impressing on the Contender Series. His flashy fights and knockouts built a strong following.
He won the bantamweight title in 2023 against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 with a second-round knockout. He defended it once against Marlon Vera in 2024 at UFC 299 before losing to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September 2024. The rematch at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, ended with another loss, leaving his record at 18-3 with one no-contest, showing his growth amid challenges.
Dvalishvili’s Triumph and Future Targets
Merab Dvalishvili, a Georgian fighter, defended his bantamweight title against O’Malley at UFC 316 with a third-round submission. Since joining UFC in 2017, he has a record of 20-4, known for his relentless wrestling. His win marked his second title defense, extending his win streak to 13.
Dvalishvili has expressed interest in facing Cory Sandhagen next, praising him as a deserving contender. Other potential opponents like Petr Yan or Mario Bautista could also be in line, depending on UFC plans. His focus on new challenges highlights his dominance in the division.
O’Malley plans to rest for a few weeks before deciding his next move. A rematch with Dvalishvili or a fight against a grappler like Umar Nurmagomedov could help him rebuild. Dvalishvili, as champion, is likely to face Cory Sandhagen to defend his title, solidifying his reign. Both fighters’ paths suggest a competitive future in the division.