It looks like there’s no lingering tension between bantamweight stars Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. The two recently bumped into each other at the UFC Performance Institute, where O’Malley didn’t hold back on complimenting the reigning champ for his stellar performance in defending his title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 last January.
“You really impressed me in that last fight,” O’Malley shared on his YouTube channel. “It was exciting to watch. Really, it was a blast.”
Before facing Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili had snatched the bantamweight crown with a decisive victory over O’Malley at UFC 306 the previous September. While nothing is set in stone yet, UFC CEO Dana White has dropped a hint that a rematch might just be around the corner.
“They’re itching to get back in the ring together,” White mentioned after UFC Seattle. “And I think fans would love to see it too.”
Dvalishvili seemed to share this sentiment, hinting at a possible return during their chat.
“Much respect to you as a fighter,” Dvalishvili told O’Malley. “When we face off again, I know you pack a punch, and I know you’ll switch up your strategy.”
O’Malley has been on the sidelines due to undergoing hip surgery following the main event at UFC 306. He admitted that the injury was a factor during his bout with Dvalishvili.
“I was fighting with just one good hip last time,” he confessed. “Now I’ve got my full strength back.”
In their initial showdown, Dvalishvili managed to execute six out of his 15 takedown attempts, while O’Malley seemed hesitant to fully unleash his striking skills, wary of Dvalishvili’s wrestling prowess. Now, it seems Dvalishvili might be considering a shift in tactics for their next encounter.
“I think I might showcase my striking this time,” Dvalishvili teased. “You don’t believe me? Did you see me against Umar? I was throwing punches.”
