Merab Dvalishvili teases Sean O’Malley rematch for UFC 309, O’Malley responds

Merab Dvalishvili is providing to place his rivalry with Sean O’Malley to mattress for good.

“The Machine” handily gained a five-round unanimous choice at UFC 306 to take the bantamweight title from O’Malley, however the former champion has questioned the scoring since, arguing that he did sufficient to win three rounds of the combat.

Although O’Malley got here on robust within the fifth and arguably gained the third, it’s tough to determine what different around the judges might have given him provided that Dvalishvili managed the vast majority of the motion together with his grappling. Regardless, Dvalishvili seems to be open to going through O’Malley once more, and shortly, as he took to social media to suggest a rematch at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.

“I hear O’Malley thinks he gained the combat and is in search of a rematch,” Dvalishvili wrote in a Twitter submit tagging O’Malley.” If he needs it, he can have it. Let’s do Nov. 16 on the Backyard after which I’ll nonetheless defend the title towards whoever the UFC needs me to combat subsequent. What do you assume?”

Dvalishvili’s assurance that he nonetheless plans to defend towards one other contender might be excellent news for combat followers desperate to see him lock up with undefeated bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov. A matchup between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov would put the champion’s 11-fight win streak towards an opponent that’s but to lose in 18 professional bouts.

Regardless, it doesn’t sound like O’Malley plans to take Dvalishvili up on his supply as he has an upcoming surgical procedure that would maintain him sidelined nicely into 2025. He replied to Dvalishvili, telling him that he ought to simply combat Nurmagomedov as a substitute.

“Getting surgical procedure Oct. 3,” O’Malley wrote. “Fought you with one hip and nonetheless beat you. Rounds 1, 3, 5. I’m the champ. Battle Umar.”

Nurmagomedov has additionally chimed in by way of social media:

Dvalishvili later provided a clarification, claiming that it’s O’Malley who has been pushing for a rematch and that he’s merely accommodating that request—on his phrases.

The bantamweight champion additionally reiterated that he’s open to preventing Nurmagomedov or every other opponent as soon as his enterprise with O’Malley is resolved.