Merab Dvalishvili is preparing for a rematch with Sean O’Malley at UFC 316. He reveals that this is not a separate fight for him, but a chance to solidify his legacy and enjoy a little bit along the way. Their first meeting was a chess match, with Merab walking the winner, but he knows O’Malley is back with some new tricks on his sleeve.
Merab dvalishvili sets out a sight about legacy in the UFC 316 rematch
“It was my first rematch and I’m very relaxed. I relaxed in the first fight, but now I don’t want to relax. Now, Sean has changed his game plan and knows he’s going to make some big adjustments,” Merab said in an interview with the UFC. “I’m relaxed, but I’m telling myself, ‘You have to be motivated. You’ve had to be more hungry than I was in my first fight.’ ”
For Merab Dvalishvili, every fight is a step towards building something bigger than just a record. “For me, it’s more of a legacy. Every fight is important. I’m excited about this rematch. Just for the sake of the fight, you want him to finish. I want to try something else. Sean wants to change his plans.
Merab Dvalishvili opens about the motivational struggle ahead of the second Sean O’Malley clash
But even a driven fighter like Merab admits that running it on the same opponent can be a strange experience. Georgian athletes explained:
“This rematch is a bit strange because it’s difficult to motivate myself. I know I’m fighting the same guy, but I know this guy is going to be even more dangerous now. The first fight, I knew I would work against him.
When it comes to his relationship with O’Malley, Merab keeps it honest. “I’ve always liked him and I respected him as a fighter. When I saw him, the way he won, how he reached in the UFC, he was already a superstar. Of course, I like him as a fighter, as an interesting individual. But I want to fight him.
With UFC 316 on the horizon, Merab Dvalishvili doesn’t just repeat his final performance. He wants to raise his stakes and test out the new and improved Sean O’Malley.
