Sean O’Malley sees Merab Dvalishvili as a potential threat to his own success.
The current UFC bantamweight champion is set to defend his title this Saturday in Las Vegas.
Dvalishvili is scheduled to face Petr Yan in a main event rematch at UFC 323, marking his fourth title defense this year and becoming the first champion to achieve this.
Known as “The Machine,” Dvalishvili has shown impressive performances, including a surprising victory over Cory Sandhagen in October.
However, O’Malley warns that increased confidence can sometimes lead to mistakes in the octagon.
Aljamain Sterling predicts a TKO win for Dvalishvili on December 6, noting that coach John Wood has advised the champion to be more aggressive.
On the Ariel Helwani Show, O’Malley pointed out Dvalishvili’s growing confidence in striking as a possible vulnerability for Yan to exploit.
O’Malley explained that Yan must be cautious since he is a skilled counter-striker who can capitalize on openings.
Dvalishvili’s last TKO was in 2021 against Marlon Moraes, when he achieved his first knockdown in the UFC, showing the risks when a champion becomes overly aggressive.
O’Malley also expressed that while he expects Dvalishvili to keep his title and headline UFC 323, he believes he remains the best candidate to eventually dethrone the Georgian in 2026.
He mentioned on his YouTube channel that beating Dvalishvili requires landing a precise shot, as the champion’s confidence makes him more vulnerable to counters.
O’Malley stated, “I think I’m the only one who can beat him” and expressed his determination to get back into title contention with upcoming wins.
Finally, O’Malley is set to face Song Yadong in a fight that could boost his chances to challenge for the title again, disrupting Yadong’s plans for UFC 324.
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Fan Take: This buildup between Dvalishvili, Yan, and O’Malley is electrifying for fight fans, as it highlights the evolving dynamics and high stakes in the bantamweight division. The outcome could reshape the title landscape and influence the career trajectories of some of UFC’s most exciting fighters.
