Merab Dvalishvili caught some warmth from Final Combating Championship (UFC) President, Dana White, earlier this week (Tues., Aug. 29, 2023) for staying loyal to his finest pal and teammate, Aljamain Sterling.
It’s been no secret that top-ranked Bantamweight contenders, Dvalishvili and Sterling, have had no want to ever collide contained in the Octagon. Due to this fact, resulting in a difficult state of affairs atop the division and finding out title photographs. Finally, Dvalishvili (16-4) has had a case for some time now as he at present rides a record-setting nine-fight successful streak within the division.
Regardless of the phrases exchanged up to now, Sean O’Malley — the person to dethrone Sterling (watch highlights) — agrees together with his potential future foe.
“I imply, I get it, I wouldn’t need to battle a teammate. However, I’m additionally wealthy and profitable. If I wasn’t but, f—okay, do you? I don’t know, it’s a difficult state of affairs,” O’Malley mentioned on his YouTube channel.
“It’s very practical that these guys are going to rise to the highest, Kyler [Phillips], Mario [Bautista], Marcus [McGhee], these guys are f—king harmful, harmful guys. Yeah, I don’t know, I assume that’s one thing we have now to determine once we get there. I wouldn’t need to battle ‘em, I don’t need to battle a teammate.”
O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili continues to be a chance as “Sugar’s” first title protection. Nonetheless, Dvalishvili is on the mend from a latest hand surgical procedure and has famous he’ll want about 4 to 6 extra months earlier than he’s totally recovered. “The Machine” has mentioned he’s prepared to return earlier and battle via the ache if granted his long-awaited shot at UFC gold.
In the meantime, Marlon “Chito” Vera sits on the No. 6 spot within the official UFC rankings because the more than likely subsequent title challenger because of his historical past with the brand new champion. Vera scored a primary spherical technical knockout win over O’Malley in 2020, the one lack of O’Malley’s 19-fight profession (17-1, 1 no contest).
