Behind his second career loss at Merab Dvalishvili in just eight months, Sean O’Malley, a former Bantamweight Kingpin, admits he didn’t expect Georgian to finish in the title rematch to Top UFC 316.
O’Malley, given an immediate title fight against Drivishvili’s Dominant Wrestling Ace, behind his decision loss at the Noche UFC last year, is back in New Jersey tonight.
However, O’Malley, suffering from a similar fate as his first pairing in September, was defeated on multiple occasions in the first and second rounds.
However, O’Malley, the Montana striker who lost a submission loss for the first time in his professional career in the third round, went to his back following a darth choke attempt from Dvalishvili.
Sean O’Malley Koi on UFC 316 Submitted Defeat
And after the defeat, O’Malley admitted that he had no hope of facing Tbilisi’s dominant power in this way.
“I didn’t think it would be that way,” Sean O’Malley told Joe Logan in an interview with the Octagon after the war. Unfortunately, it’s .merab’s (dvalishvili). Yes, I just want to stick and thank everyone who came out and supported us.
“If this isn’t for you, this wouldn’t be possible. I feel very grateful that I can do this, Sean O’Malley continued.
Next up, Dvalishvili appears to be a title defense against perennial candidate Cory Sandhagen.
“I love it (the fight against Cory Sandhagen),” Merab Dvalishvili told Joe Rogan in a postwar interview after UFC 316.
