UFC Champion Sean O Malley Holds Out for Stateside Bout Against Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O Malley is gearing up for his next challenge, but he's holding out for the right opportunity – and it needs to be on home soil.

Fresh off his first title defense with a dominant victory over Marlon Vera at UFC 299, O'Malley is eager to step back into the octagon for his next bout against Merab Dvalishvili. However, with some upcoming pay-per-view events scheduled outside the U.S., O'Malley is adamant about fighting within the country.

In a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow podcast, O'Malley expressed his eagerness to book the fight as soon as possible while highlighting his preference for fighting in the U.S. He stated, 

"The only issue is that some of the next pay-per-views aren’t in the country, and I’m not fighting out of the country – not necessarily because I don’t want to. I don’t want to."

Despite the logistical challenges, O'Malley remains determined to face Dvalishvili and put an end to his dominant run in the UFC. Known for his wrestling prowess, Dvalishvili presents a formidable challenge, but O'Malley is confident in his abilities to dictate the pace of the fight.

Reflecting on Dvalishvili's recent bout against Henry Cejudo, O'Malley outlined his strategy, aiming to make the fight uncomfortable for his opponent. He remarked, 

"I need to make him feel like, ‘OK, it’s not that fun. I’m getting f*cking punched at a distance, and I can’t really close. This isn’t fun.’"

With his sights set on securing another victory, O'Malley's determination to compete on his terms underscores his commitment to the sport and his desire to showcase his skills on the grand stage of the UFC.