Merab Dvalishvili (right) should be Sean O'Malley's next challenger (left) (Photo: Montage/SUPER FIGHTS)
After successfully defend the bantamweight title (up to 61,2 kg) in a rematch against the Ecuadorian Marlon Vera, Sean O'Malley has not yet officially defined his next step as champion of the category, but everything indicates that it will be a duel against Merab Dvalishvili, first placed in the ranking and owner of a sequence of ten victories in the Octagon.
During his appearance on the 'MMA Hour' podcast, Tim Welch, Sean O'Malley's coach, gave the green light to Merab as the next challenger for his pupil's title.
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“I believe there is a good chance of him (Merab Dvalishvili) be next. Who else? Cory Sandhagen? I think it's a little early to Ilia Topuria. It will depend on the UFC, but I believe the biggest chance is that Merab will be next. I think it's fair. We have to get past this guy. He deserved it, with ten straight wins”, said the coach.
When talking about O'Malley's immediate future, Welch revealed that the bantamweight champion is working towards a return between September and November this year and admitted he was nervous about facing the “scary” Merab Dvalishvili.
“Merab is an animal. Anyone who carries ten wins in a row has a certain sense of confidence with him, which is scary in itself. His conditioning for five rounds is scary, but I know he's never faced anyone like Sean and it's going to be in a big octagon, so I'm excited. There are ways for us to win. There is also a way for us to lose. If we are not on our night, but Sean always is, Merab is a problem, but we have ways to win”, he analyzed.
Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili They are the owners of the biggest active winning streaks in the bantamweight division of Ultimate. The champion is undefeated in seven fights, with six wins and one no contest, while the Georgian has ten consecutive victories and has not lost since 2018.
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