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Tag: Sean O’Malley

  • Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley Shuts Down Petr Yan’s Rematch Request, Keeps Sights On Merab Dvalishvili

    Sean O’Malley appears to have nothing in his crosshairs except redemption opposite UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili next year.

    O’Malley was thrust off the throne in emphatic fashion by Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere this past September, bringing an end to his reign in its second defense.

    “Sugar” subsequently headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum and is targeting a return in the first or second quarter of 2025. And he was recently called out by a familiar foe for his comeback fight.

    “I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregnant.”

    Yan’s comments come after he made it two wins from two in 2024 by outpointing Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. While he’s gone back and forth with Dvalishvili over a rematch for the title, Umar Nurmagomedov is widely seen as the deserving next in line at 135 pounds.

    With that in mind, the Russian may need to look elsewhere for his next assignment. And judging by O’Malley’s reaction to his request for a redo, his door has been firmly shut for “No Mercy.”

    “I predict it will be early Q2. Against Merab. Thanks for asking,” O’Malley wrote in his response on X.

    O’Malley has repeatedly outlined his intention to return straight into a shot at avenging his decision defeat to “The Machine.”

    With the timeline for Nurmagomedov’s expected maiden title opportunity still uncertain as the year approaches its conclusion, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for both O’Malley and Yan in 2025.

  • Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Daniel Cormier Pitches Next Fights For O’Malley, Yan, Figueiredo At Bantamweight

    Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has some matchups in mind for the bantamweight division in 2025, including the next outings for Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan.

    The 135-pound weight class is entering the new year with a fresh champion at the helm and a number of hungry contenders chasing him down.

    Merab Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage by dethroning O’Malley inside the Sphere this past September. While “Suga” eyes a shot at redemption in his return from injury next March or April, Umar Nurmagomedov sits as the consensus number one contender.

    In spite of the Georgian’s ongoing attempts to push that matchup away, the Dagestani has plenty of support when it comes to his claim to an opportunity, including from Cormier.

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier pointed to Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov as the logical next title fight in the bantamweight division.

    And in terms of how the rest of the top names should be matched up, “DC” has some ideas for that too.

    “There is a bunch of guys at 135 that need to be matched up. So I figured, it’s time for some matchmaking,” Cormier began. “For the title…easy, Merab vs. Umar. … Then I go Yan vs. Sandhagen (2) as my second fight, Chael. Because then it gives you a clear number one contender.

    “Sean O’Malley needs a big fight, right? You know who else needs a big fight? Henry Cejudo. These guys have a beef, an easy beef to sell…I say put Sean O’Malley in there with the former champion Henry Cejudo. That means more than a win over Cory Sandhagen,” Cormier continued. “After that, I’m going Figgy (Deiveson Figueiredo) vs. Dominick Cruz. And my last one, Chael, we’ve got to give Mario Bautista a chance. … I’m giving him (Marlon) ‘Chito’ Vera.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not the UFC higher-ups will share Cormier’s view of the division. For now, it doesn’t appear the champ himself does.

    Having previously pointed to others as more worthy of challenging for his gold than Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili most recently called for a rematch with Yan following “No Mercy’s” decision win over Figueiredo in Macau last weekend.

  • Sean O’Malley Slams Merab Dvalishvili Pushing For Petr Yan Rematch: ‘Sh*tting Himself Terrified Of Umar’

    Sean O’Malley Slams Merab Dvalishvili Pushing For Petr Yan Rematch: ‘Sh*tting Himself Terrified Of Umar’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley hasn’t been impressed with the actions of Merab Dvalishvili since he ascended to the throne this past September.

    Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, where he comfortably got the better of O’Malley across five rounds.

    In attendance was Umar Nurmagomedov, the consensus number one contender who staked his claim for a shot against the Noche UFC main event winner when he defeated Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi the previous month.

    But the Dagestani hasn’t been getting a positive response from the champ ever since, with “The Machine” instead first branding Deiveson Figueiredo a more worthy challenger before pitching dates to run it back with both O’Malley and Petr Yan.

    The latter caught Dvalishvili’s attention when he outpointed Figueiredo in this past weekend’s UFC Macau main event. The Georgian has called for “No Mercy” to be the opponent in his first defense at UFC 313 next March.

    During a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow alongside coach Tim Welch, O’Malley joined plenty in calling out Dvalishvili’s push to once again face Yan, whom he convincingly defeated across five rounds in March 2023.

    “Sugar” echoed the sentiments of Nurmagomedov himself, branding the newly crowned bantamweight kingpin “terrified” of him.

    “Umar wants to fight Merab in January. Petr wants to fight Merab in March. I want to fight Merab in April,” O’Malley said. “Merab is absolutely sh*tting himself terrified of Umar. He doesn’t want to fight Umar. Now he’s saying he wants to fight Petr. He wanted to fight me. Petr got 50-45’d to Merab.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Nurmagomedov will indeed get his shot next. Be it a title opportunity or clash against another contender, the Dagestani has insisted on a return to action before he observes Ramadan in 2025.

    O’Malley, meanwhile, has made his intentions of pursuing redemption against Dvalishvili upon his recovery from labrum surgery next year clear.

    For now, though, the Georgian continues to campaign for a second dance opposite Yan.

  • Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Chael Sonnen Suggests Sean O’Malley Could Challenge Ilia Topuria In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not A Crazy Idea!’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen sees no reason why the promotion couldn’t pair featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria with Sean O’Malley next year.

    O’Malley ignited talk of pursuing two-division glory following Topuria’s rise to the 145-pound throne at the start of 2024. At the time, “Suga” occupied top spot in the bantamweight division and would soon add a successful defense to his reign at the expense of Marlon Vera.

    With work still to do in his own weight class, O’Malley instead met the challenge of Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for the Montana native inside the Sphere in September, where “The Machine” cruised to a title crowning.

    With that, a possible superfight with “El Matador” appeared to take some damage. But despite O’Malley putting his sights on redemption against Dvalishvili and a second stint with 135-pound gold in his possession, Sonnen has questioned why Topuria is now out of the question.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” pointed out that Alex Pereira’s rise to a second title was made possible by his knockout loss to Israel Adesanya.

    Believing it to be easier to move up without a title, Sonnen doesn’t see a clash between Topuria and bantamweight contender O’Malley in 2025 to be a “crazy” idea.

    “One of the big talking points this week is what could have been. What could have been with a superfight between Sean O’Malley and Ilia Topuria, how massive that could have been,” Sonnen said. “The thing holding up a superfight between Topuria and Sean O’Malley is not Merab or Merab getting a decision over Sean or Sean not being the champion. It is none of those things. That is not true. Had Sean won, he and Ilia Topuria would not be fighting. They had not cleaned out their divisions, respectively.

    “If I’m right, but you’re also right in that that’s the massive fight, we can now make it and we can make it right now. The thing in the way of it (was) Sean being the champion at 135. They can now do that fight,” Sonnen continued. “The quickest way you’re ever gonna get Pereira vs. (Tom) Aspinall or Pereira vs. (Jon) Jones…(is) if Pereira is to lose at light heavyweight. That is how we got Pereira to the 205-pound class to start with. … It’s not a crazy idea. … What if he (O’Malley) did take 10 or 12 months? 10 or 12 months to put on some size and he comes right up and challenges Ilia Topuria.”

    It remains to be seen whether O’Malley or the promotion may have the same idea as Sonnen down the line. For now, it appears that “Suga” is intent on avenging his loss to Dvalishvili once healed from the surgery he underwent to repair a torn labrum last month.

    Topuria, meanwhile, appears likely to run it back with Alexander Volkanovski next year after getting past Max Holloway in his first defense in October.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Analyzes How He Would Fare Against Ilia Topuria

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Analyzes How He Would Fare Against Ilia Topuria

    UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is the man of the moment right now following his knockout win over Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 308. In the past, there was a lot of people calling out “El Matador” but this has gone quiet following this recent performance.

    The new UFC star has now beaten two great former champions in back-to-back fights, finishing both Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. It wasn’t that long ago that the champion of the weight class below was eyeing up a fight with him.

    Before Sean O’Malley lost his bantamweight belt to Merab Dvalishvili, who certainly isn’t going to fight Topuria, “Suga” had teased the idea of moving up in weight. Topuria appeared to welcome it but after what he did in Abu Dhabi at the weekend, O’Malley jokingly remarked that he’s no longer interested.

    Despite this, O’Malley’s long time coach Tim Welch believes that the 135-pounder could cause Topuria some issues due to the strengths be brings to the table. Many are looking at the featherweight champion and his undefeated record as an unbeatable fighter in this current form.

    Welch explained in a recent interview with Submission Radio why this is never the case and how O’Malley would be able to have success against him.

    “No, I don’t think it’s past. I mean, you never know what’s going to happen in the UFC. It’s not impossible that Volkanovski goes out there and beats Ilia Topuria. I mean, that’s possible so you never know and I do think stylistically, Sean could give Ilia problems. He really could but Ilia Topuria is a very, very scary fight.

    “That’s not a fight that you go in there and be like, ‘Oh yeah man we’re gonna
’, it’s like you make one mistake with Ilia Topuria and you’re going to be lights out, looking up at the ceiling or whatever but that’s a scary, scary fight. But I do believe that Sean, with his range and with his speed and with his, with his I mean, just his, his overall skill set, he could give Ilia problems. I do believe that.”

  • Sean O’Malley On Ilia Topuria After UFC 308: ‘Like A Little F**king Alex Pereira’

    Sean O’Malley On Ilia Topuria After UFC 308: ‘Like A Little F**king Alex Pereira’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley watched on this past weekend as Ilia Topuria, a man whom he’s discussed fighting down the line, continued his violent undefeated run.

    Topuria returned to headline Saturday’s UFC 308 pay-per-view eight months on from his featherweight title crowning in Anaheim. After getting the better of one divisional legend in Alexander Volkanovski, “El Matador” repeated the feat in Abu Dhabi.

    This time, it was fan favorite Max Holloway on the receiving end of a violent ending. “Blessed,” who holds the symbolic BMF title, was knocked out for the first time in his career after being caught with a vicious left hook in round three.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, O’Malley reacted to the main event at Etihad Arena, which saw Topuria further enhance his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “God, Ilia’s a f*cking finisher, huh? He’ll jump on you,” O’Malley said. “Ilia’s so dangerous until the last bell. … Ilia landed a beautiful left hook. … This is exciting times. Great time to be alive. great time to be a UFC fan.

    “Ilia just hurt Max bad…Ilia lands a bomb. Max is still stunned. Oh! Left hook! Ilia finishes Max Holloway with a left hook in round three. Holy sh*t, Ilia is that guy,” O’Malley continued. “Who at 145 wants to fight Ilia right now? Ilia’s just so dangerous the whole fight. He’s a like a little f*cking Alex Pereira. You can’t tell me Islam (Makhachev) vs. f*cking Ilia isn’t a fight you’d want to see.”

    Talk of a super fight involving Topuria previously centered around O’Malley looking to move up to 145 pounds to challenge “El Matador.” But while that might have been on the menu should he have turned away Merab Dvalishvili’s challenge, O’Malley was unseated from the bantamweight throne inside the Sphere last month.

    With that, it appears Topuria is entertaining thoughts of a champ-champ pursuit himself, having gone back and forth with lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev in recent times.

    For now, though, the Spaniard will seemingly need to further cement his grip on the crown at 145 pounds by adding a second win over Volkanovski to his UFC résumé.

  • JosĂ© Aldo Reacts To Sean O’Malley’s Interest In Future Fight

    JosĂ© Aldo Reacts To Sean O’Malley’s Interest In Future Fight

    Whether he’s coming off of a win or not, the name of MMA legend JosĂ© Aldo is always going to carry significant weight in the UFC. His recent loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 307 didn’t seem to hurt the stock of the Brazilian icon at all, partly due to the controversial outcome.

    Aldo is always going to be a big draw, especially at home in Brazil, and that makes it easy for him to jump right into big fights even when his last two opponents have been Bautista and Jonathan Martinez.

    During his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley expressed some interest in facing off with “The King of Rio”. His main focus right now is on securing a rematch with the champion Merab Dvalishvili so he can try to avenge his loss from UFC 306 in September.

    However, “Suga” also stated that if this fight doesn’t materialize, getting to share the Octagon with a legend like Aldo would be “f****** crazy”. There is ten spots in the bantamweight rankings between them but given their name value and the match-up, O’Malley vs. Aldo would be a fight that a lot of people would pay to see.

    Reacting to an article posted by MMA News about O’Malley’s comments, Aldo made it clear in very few characters that he’s also open to this match-up.

    The former featherweight king posted on X, quoting the article and adding two simple emojis to let his fans know what he thinks about the idea of standing across the cage from O’Malley once the former champ is fully recovered from his recent surgery.

  • Conor McGregor Sends Proposal To Sean O’Malley As They Squash Beef

    Conor McGregor Sends Proposal To Sean O’Malley As They Squash Beef

    Conor McGregor and Sean O’Malley have got a fairly complicated relationship with one another that has taken drastic turns. The two men appeared to be on the same page for a long time before several harsh comments back-and-forth on social media drew a clear line in the sand.

    It now appears that things have been brushed aside and bridges have been rebuilt following recent comments that were made by “Suga” on the Join The Lobby Podcast. The former UFC bantamweight champion spoke about how “The Notorious” will always be an influential figure on his own career and that he wishes him the best in whatever he is doing.

    “He played an important role in my career. It’s always will be inspiration to me at some point
 Right now I wouldn’t say he necessarily is
 He has a big family now, a bunch of kids, and I hope he’s doing well.”

    McGregor Extends Training Offer To Sean O’Malley & Tim Welch

    In a since deleted post on X, McGregor responded to the clip that was posted of O’Malley squashing the beef that he previously had with the Irishman. The former UFC champ-champ also chose to forgive and forget via the statement that he put out.

    McGregor referred to O’Malley as a “fighting legend” and “an incredible superstar” but spent most of his social media post speaking about something else.

    “The Notorious” would very much like it if O’Malley and his coach would come over to Dublin to train with his head coach John Kavanagh at his home gym, SBG Dublin. He spoke about the potential gain that both “Suga” and Tim Welch could take from this experience before the try to reclaim the bantamweight throne following the events of UFC 306.

    “Sean is a fighting legend! UFC champion and an incredible superstar! I would love, love, love to see, and I can set it up fully, himself and his long time coach, Tim Welch, do a stint in Ireland. A 4 week run at SBG Ireland under Johns coaching and I am telling you he would regain his title. He has a shot at regaining it still for sure, but for himself, and also his coach to spend a good month, to begin with, not a long time, but a good solid month under coach Kav at SBG and they would take heaps of knowledge back with them and onward to regain the Gold. I would love to see it!”

    Screenshot
  • Sean O’Malley Didn’t Pull Out Of UFC 306 Despite Injury Because ‘Merab Sucks’ 

    Sean O’Malley Didn’t Pull Out Of UFC 306 Despite Injury Because ‘Merab Sucks’ 

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley says withdrawing from his title defense opposite Merab Dvalishvili was never an option.

    O’Malley was forced to relinquish his grip on the crown at 135 pounds in his second defense, which headlined last month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view inside the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Six months on from an emphatic five-round display to exact revenge on Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami, “Sugar” had a more difficult 25-minute experience when sharing the Octagon with Dvalishvili.

    The Georgian utilized his relentless pressure and smothering grappling game to secure the decision victory, extending his winning run to 11 straight fights and completing his championship ambitions in the process.

    In the aftermath of the result, O’Malley revealed a long spell on the sidelines awaited him, having fought through a torn labrum at UFC 306.

    O’Malley Doesn’t Regret Fighting Through Injury, Expects To ‘Whoop’ Dvalishvili In Rematch

    During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, O’Malley reflected on the disappointing end to his short title reign in Las Vegas last month.

    In terms of the injury he competed with, “Sugar” insisted that withdrawing and delaying his second defense was not a possibility, partly down to his confidence when it came to having superiority over “The Machine.”

    “I had a torn labrum. 10 weeks before the fight, I f*cking snapped my labrum. It is what it is. … It was unfortunate,” O’Malley said. “No, (I didn’t consider pulling out). UFC Noche, f*cking Merab sucks. There was no reason to pull out.

    “No, (I don’t regret not pulling out). Because I’m going to whoop Merab’s ass, and it’s going to make it that much sweeter when I beat him the second time,” O’Malley continued. “Overall, I had a good camp. Way better camp than the Aljo camp. The rib injury was a lot harder to train with than the torn labrum. The labrum, it’s just pain. … I was able to do a lot more.”

    O’Malley has little doubt that a second dance with Dvalishvili lies in his future.

    And with some uncertainty surrounding the Georgian’s expected title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov coming to fruition before the Dagestani takes a break for Ramadan, “Sugar” is hoping for a faster-than-predicted recovery in order to be a available for a possible rematch with the champ in March or April 2025.

  • Cory Sandhagen Pushes For Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘There’s Not A Better Fight You Can Make’

    Cory Sandhagen Pushes For Sean O’Malley Fight: ‘There’s Not A Better Fight You Can Make’

    Cory Sandhagen has made it clear that he wants to fight Sean O’Malley and is actively campaigning for the matchup, which he believes is a no-brainer.

    O’Malley, one of the UFC’s top stars and a former bantamweight champion, is coming off a decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 after winning three straight fights, including capturing and defending the bantamweight title. Sandhagen, meanwhile, recently faced Umar Nurmagomedov and is eager to secure his next big fight.

    Speaking on Michael Bisping’s YouTube channel, Sandhagen expressed his surprise that the UFC hasn’t made more effort to book the fight with O’Malley.

    “You read all the comments, and you talk to fans, and that’s the fight everyone wants to see happen,” Sandhagen said (H/T to MMA Junkie). “I’m actually kind of surprised the UFC hasn’t come to me or Sean, or said anything about that fight yet. They haven’t even asked, ‘Hey, are you willing to wait till June?’ because I would definitely consider that.”

    Sandhagen continued, “One thing I’ve really come to appreciate is giving the fans what they’re paying to see. If that means waiting for the fight they’re most excited for, I would entertain it. I’d prefer it not to be all the way in June, but there’s no better fight you can make. Me and O’Malley would be a banger.”

    Other Options

    Sandhagen also revealed that the UFC offered him a fight against Deiveson Figueiredo for late 2024. However, Figueiredo opted to fight Petr Yan instead. With O’Malley coming off a loss, Sandhagen sees him as the only viable opponent at this point.

  • Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Ali Abdelaziz: O’Malley Deserves Title Shot Once Umar Nurmagomedov Is Champion

    Umar Nurmagomedov is looking increasingly likely to be the next contender for the bantamweight title that changed hands at UFC 306.

    Merab Dvalishvili wasn’t sold on the idea following his win over Sean O’Malley last month but with several other top contenders either booked or coming off of losses, it doesn’t look like he will have much choice in the matter.

    Nurmagomedov has only fought one contender in the top 15, Cory Sandhagen, meaning that his first title defense if he was to win the belt would open up a lot of opportunities. With the biggest name in the division in “Suga” returning to the role of contender, it’s not likely to be long before he’s back in a big fight even if the fighters around him in the rankings stay active.

    Ali Abdelaziz Says Sean O’Malley Would Deserve To Fight Umar Nurmagomedov When He’s Champion

    There’s a strong chance that O’Malley finds himself in a title fight unless the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo or Petr Yan are able to make a statement when they meet.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz spoke about how O’Malley would be at the top of their priorities if he’s successful against Dvalishvili.

    “Suga” has recently undergone surgery but if the timelines end up working out, which you’d imagine they will given his recent update, Abdelaziz said that O’Malley deserves this opportunity even if he is coming off a loss.

    “Sean O’Malley just have a surgery. The plan was Umar beat Merab and after that Umar gives Sean O’Malley a title shot coming off a loss because I believe Sean O’Malley deserves it. He built the division, he made everybody money, why not give the guy love for making the 135 (division) exciting as it is today.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Called ‘Hypocrite’ For Supporting Mario Bautista’s UFC 307 Win After Bashing Merab Dvalishvili

  • Sean O’Malley Adjusts UFC Return Timeline Days On From Surgery: ‘I Want To Be Back ASAP’

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is looking to get back in the cage earlier than initially forecast.

    O’Malley looked set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines in the aftermath of his defeat to Merab Dvalishvili. “Suga” had his reign ended in convincing fashion at the Sphere-held UFC 306 (Noche UFC) event last month.

    Following the setback, it was revealed that the American had fought through a torn labrum on the night and would require surgery. When detailing that, O’Malley suggested he could be out for as long as one year.

    But after revised estimates put a potential comeback forward to the summer of 2025, O’Malley’s hunger to return to winning ways now has him assessing a possible return in the very first quarter of next year.

    O’Malley Targets UFC Return As Soon As March 2025

    During a UFC 307 reaction video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, O’Malley once again spoke about his situation having recently undergone surgery on his pre-fight injury.

    “Suga” claimed to be feeling good following the procedure and is anticipating a quick return to physical activity.

    “Got surgery Thursday. Today is Saturday, it’s been f*cking two days. I feel f*cking great. I’m gonna come back better than ever,” O’Malley said. “I’ll be back next week to sparring. No, I do think I am going to do everything right. I’m going to recover as fast as I possibly can, and I’m gonna get back. Everyone is like, ‘Don’t come back too soon.’ I’m coming back the right amount of soon. I wanna be back ASAP.

    “I want to get these fights in while I’m still, you know, young enough. I turn 30 this month. I want to recover, do everything right, but I want to get back in there April, May, June latest,” O’Malley continued. “I think I can be back before that. March even would be crazy, but who knows?” 

    It remains to be seen what will await O’Malley inside the cage when he is ready to make the walk again.

    While Dvalishvili has responded to “Suga’s” post-fight antics by offering a rematch, it stands to reason that the Georgian will need to get past the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov if that is to remain a possibility upon O’Malley’s return.

  • ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    ‘Big’ John McCarthy Responds After Sean O’Malley’s Coach Pleads ‘Excessive Coaching’ Case At UFC 306

    “Big” John McCarthy recently addressed Sean O’Malley’s coach after Tim Welch sought clarification on the controversial excessive coaching incident at UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over “Suga” to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 306 earlier this month. While the outcome was unquestionably clear at the end of the day, the fight took an unusual turn just moments after it began.

    “The Machine” suddenly paused mid-action, gesturing furiously toward his opponent’s corner, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in. Dean reprimanded Dvalishvili for interrupting the match and also gave Welch a warning for overstepping his coaching boundaries, citing the ‘excessive coaching’ rule.

    In the days following the fight, Welch broke his silence on the controversial incident, admitting he did shout at Dvalishvili but claimed he only told him to “be patient.” He also acknowledged that some of his instructions for O’Malley included “The Machine’s” name, brushing it off as merely a case of normal coaching and insisting it had no impact on the outcome of the bout.

    However, veteran referee McCarthy believes Welch’s actions crossed a line and constituted clear misconduct…

    McCarthy Cautions Welch On Interference with Opponents During Fights

    During a recent appearance on the WEIGHING IN podcast, Welch posed a question to McCarthy, asking how he would have handled the situation if a similar incident to UFC 306’s main event unfolded under his watch.

    The renowned MMA referee responded candidly, stating that he would have swiftly issued Welch a stern warning. Furthermore, McCarthy made it clear that if the behavior persisted, he wouldn’t hesitate to eject Welch from the arena in accordance with official refereeing guidelines.

    “I’m being honest, I would have talked to you in the beginning,” McCarthy said. “I would have said, ‘Hey, look, I need you to understand I cannot have you talking to the opponent in any fashion. So when you say ‘Merab, you’ve got to look out,’ even if it’s a call sign for you guys, you’re making it sound like you’re talking to the opponent. So right away, I would have said, ‘Hey, I’m telling you now, stop. We talked about this. If you do it again, I’m going to remove you from this arena,’ which I don’t want to do.”

    “Obviously, that would affect your fighter and everything, so it’s the last thing you want to do. But yeah, it’s right in the rules that you can talk to Sean all you want, and we want you to be able to coach and talk to him and give him good, you know, feedback, but we cannot have you in any fashion talking to the opponent or talking to the referee during the round.”

    Welch also faced significant backlash when footage surfaced from UFC 292 in August 2023, where he allegedly attempted to mislead Aljamain Sterling, trying to lure him into a reckless charge toward O’Malley.

  • ‘You Want Anyone But Umar. Paper Champ’ – MMA Fans React To Merab Dvalishvili Offering Sean O’Malley Title Rematch

    ‘You Want Anyone But Umar. Paper Champ’ – MMA Fans React To Merab Dvalishvili Offering Sean O’Malley Title Rematch

    Merab Dvalishvili recently found himself under fire from MMA fans after extending an offer to Sean O’Malley for a title rematch.

    “The Machine” seized the UFC bantamweight title by dethroning O’Malley in the main event of Noche UFC 306 earlier this month, where he thoroughly outmatched “Suga” with his masterful grappling prowess and six takedowns throughout the bout.

    Despite the outcome, O’Malley has since contested the judges’ scorecards, taking to X to argue that he actually won the fight. The former champ also disclosed that he needs surgery to address a hip injury but assured fans he’ll be back in action by next summer.

    For Dvalishvili, the debate surrounding his first title defense has intensified, with many pointing to the likely #1 contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, as the rightful challenger. However, the Georgian champion has shown little enthusiasm for facing the undefeated Dagestani in his next bout.

    Dvalishvili Slammed By MMA Community Over O’Malley Rematch Offer

    “The Machine” recently took to X to respond to O’Malley’s repeated claims that he never truly lost their bout. Dvalishvili proposed that they settle the score once and for all by running it back at UFC 309, set for November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He went on to say that after silencing O’Malley’s doubts, he’s ready to take on whoever the UFC throws his way next.

    “I hear O’Malley thinks he won the fight and is looking for a rematch,” Dvalishvili tweeted. “If he wants it, he can have it. Let’s do it on November 16th at the Garden, and then I’ll still defend the title against whoever the UFC wants me to fight next. What do you think? @SugaSeanMMA”

    Dvalishvili’s proposal sparked an array of reactions across the MMA community, with many speculating that the newly crowned champion might be attempting to dodge a showdown with Nurmagomedov. Even O’Malley and Nurmagomedov added their voices to the chorus of disapproval.

    O’Malley fired back, revealing he’s scheduled for hip surgery on October 3, and urged Dvalishvili to take on Nurmagomedov in the meantime.

    “Getting surgery Oct 3rd. I fought you with one hip and still beat you. Round 1,3,5. I’m the champ. Fight Umnar.”

    Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov doubled down on his accusations, claiming that Dvalishvili is avoiding a potential clash with him.

    “He’s ready to fight with anyone except Umar Nurmagomedov.”

    One fan chimed in, backing the Dagestani’s claim.

    “You want anyone but Umar. Paper champ.”

    Amidst the flood of negative comments, one fan stood out, applauding “The Machine” for embracing the role of an active champion.

    “Honestly, you might be the craziest champion we’ve had, but at least you’re going to be active, so you’re fine by me.”

    Another fan dismissed Dvalishvili’s proposal, branding it an unfounded offer.

    “You know he’s getting surgery
 Baseless offer.”

    One fan jokingly declared that he’d like to be the next to challenge the Georgian champion.

    “If I asked real nice, could I fight you for the belt Merab?”

    “Umnar is not that scary, bro.”

    https://twitter.com/BigBass_69/status/1839617314439737777

    “No. Stop ducking Umar. F**king lame.”

    https://twitter.com/iAmFroggyFresh/status/1839691017039061229

    “The way you’ve been trying to duck Umar is crazzy.”

    “No one wants to watch that again, Merab
least of all your boss, Dana”

    https://twitter.com/CDLessThanDoug/status/1839656512932753700
  • ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses
’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    ‘Done Nothing But Make Excuses
’ – Fans Fed Up After Latest Aljamain Sterling Rant About Sean O’Malley Title Fight

    On a recent episode of Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling joined him as a guest.

    As you’d expect, at one point, the conversation turned to Sterling’s fight with Sean O’Malley at UFC 292 where he lost the bantamweight title, which he has spoken about a lot since.

    “Funkmaster” was pretty open about the fact that he didn’t want to fight “Suga” when the UFC wanted him to.

    Having just defended his title against Henry Cejudo, Sterling wanted some time off, instead of jumping back into another training camp.

    He spoke about this and how it affected him in the podcast episode.

    “For a guy who’s already depleted, it’s not like I had a lot to lose so to do that drastic weight cut in such a short amount of time, I knew I was like fighting an uphill battle. I’m like, you know, I told my manager no probably like five different times but eventually, somehow, I was eventually convinced to take it.”

    MMA Fans React To Aljamain Sterling Talking About The Decision To Fight Sean O’Malley

    Sterling has come out and said that though he could have and probably should’ve put his foot down to have the best chance of winning this fight, he was persuaded to take it and that’s how it played out.

    However, fans are beginning to become a little fed up over Sterling talking about how his loss was partly down to being cajoled against his wishes to take the fight.

    They voiced their opinions in the comment section underneath the video.

    “He’s done nothing but makes excuses while refusing to give Sean credit.”

    “The more Aljo talks, the more I realise I don’t actually like him”

    “Excuses delusions, misplaced blame and anger and victim mentality effect some fighters so much they can’t see reality. Tyrone Woodly and Aljo are 2 of the damn worst.”

    “Who else is sick of all this victimhood.”

    “Dana hated both of these guys as champions.”

    “Sean o malley had broken ribs and couldn’t grapple and he still fought aljo and whooped him”

    “Bro is STILL talking about this?? Aljo, let it go man.”

    “You got merked, accept it like a man.”

    Read also: Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It
’

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals UFC Rules He Would Change: ‘Aljo Does It…’

    Many rules have been a bone of contention in MMA circles as they can vary across promotions. For instance, the UFC doesn’t allow knees to grounded opponents or 12-6 elbows, unlike ONE Championship. On the flip side, moves like eye pokes, groin strikes, and headbutts are banned across all major promotions for obvious safety reasons.

    Obeying the rules of the promotion and the commission you’re fighting under is very important for fighters. Jon Jones lost to Matt Hamill via DQ because he landed multiple 12-6 elbows and similarly, Petr Yan lost his UFC bantamweight championship for landing an illegal knee on Aljamain Sterling.

    Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch believes a couple of rules in MMA should change to stop fighters from exploiting them…

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Reveals How Aljamain Sterling Exploits A UFC Rule And Wishes To Get It Changed

    Welch was asked about the MMA rules he would change on his official YouTube podcast, recently. Right away, he mentioned that fighters should be able to upkick opponents on top of them.

    It is worth noting that upkicks from the ground to a standing opponent aren’t illegal in the UFC. In fact, Niko Price and Jon Fitch finished their opponents via upkicks in the promotion.

    However, it is illegal to upkick an opponent while their knees are down. Back in May 2021, Randa Markos was disqualified for kicking Luana Pinheiro from the ground while the latter’s was sitting on the ground.

    Charles Oliveira is notorious for landing upkicks too. He threw one at Islam Makhachev that could’ve knocked the Dagestani fighter out. Even against Tsarukyan, he landed an illegal upkick as the opponent’s knees were grounded following which the referee warned “Do Bronxs” and stopped the action temporarily.

    Welch, though, believes that the upkicks to a grounded opponent should be legal in the UFC. Another tactic he dislikes is fighters staying in a safe front headlock position to rest up as they cannot be kneed during the time.

    Welch called out Sterling for exploiting the grounded fighter rule sometimes and a great example of this is when “Funkmaster” took on Henry Cejudo. During multiple exchanges when Aljo would shoot for a takedown and fail, he would immediately bend his knees, leaving Cejudo with no viable moves.

    “The upkicks. If some f*****g guy’s on top of you, on his knees, whatever, you should be able to upkick him to his f*****g lips. I think that front headlock one too. People shoot into a front headlock and they can hang out there without getting damage and almost rest there. I mean, Aljo does it sometimes but to be able to knee the top of their head, boom, boom, boom, so they can’t rest there. So if you shoot in a front headlock, you fail on a shot, you got to pull the half guard and get to your back or you got to make a move. Not just sit in that frontlock thinking I’m safe.”

  • ‘Every Time!’ – Sean O’Malley Reveals How Often He’s Fought With Injuries

    ‘Every Time!’ – Sean O’Malley Reveals How Often He’s Fought With Injuries

    Sean O’Malley, regardless of the outcome of his fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, would’ve taken time off to get hip surgery. The injury had been bothering the former bantamweight kingpin for quite some time, and he’s unlikely to make his UFC return for at least a year now.

    MMA fighters dealing with injuries isn’t a surprise at all. Injuries mostly occur because of rigorous training or during sparring and often lead to fights getting postponed or canceled. However, unless things are too severe, most fighters admit to competing with injuries.

    O’Malley recently opened up about his upcoming hip surgery and how frequently he fights with injuries…

    Sean O’Malley Claims To Have ‘Mentally Accepted’ Surgery But Not The Merab Dvalishvili Loss

    O’Malley, on his official YouTube channel, revealed that he’s scheduled to undergo surgery for his left labrum in his hip on October 3, 2024. When asked how often he fights with undisclosed injuries, here’ what “Suga” said:

    “I mean, every time. Every time. I have surgery October 3rd. I’m excited about the whole, I just kind of mentally accepted it unlike the defeat. I just mentally accepted, alright, we’re going to f****g go through surgery. Go through recovery and just get her done.”

    After reiterating that he could’ve won three rounds against Dvalishvili, O’Malley discussed the implications of his hip injury. From feeling uncomfortable doing day-to-day movements to not being able to try out new tactics in training, there are many ways it bothered him. He admitted that things are worse if a fighter is dealing with a knee, hip, or ankle injury.

    The former champ also pointed out that he hasn’t been able to lift weights because of being concerned about the injury.

    This explains why “Suga” aims to fully recover ahead of his UFC return. He’ll be 30 by then and considers 30-35 to be his physical prime. So, his plan for the next 12 months mostly involves eating, sleeping, and resting properly.

    With his return date several months away, O’Malley doesn’t want to think of a comeback fight yet. He knows that the UFC bantamweight division is stacked with the likes of Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili, Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, and Deiveson Figueiredo, so finding an exciting fight for his return shouldn’t be a problem.

  • Sean O’Malley Gives Merab Dvalishvili Advice On Umar Nurmagomedov Title Defense

    Sean O’Malley Gives Merab Dvalishvili Advice On Umar Nurmagomedov Title Defense

    Sean O’Malley recently shared some tips for Merab Dvalishvili regarding his potential first title defense against the rising contender, Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Dvalishvili secured the bantamweight title, dominantly defeating reigning titleholder O’Malley by unanimous decision in the main event of Noche UFC 306, held on September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    After “The Machine” captured the 135-pound crown, anticipation quickly mounted over who would emerge as his first challenger. Even before becoming champion, Dvalishvili often pointed to former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo as the most meritorious opponent.

    Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Georgian has shown clear reluctance to face Nurmagomedov, citing the Dagestani’s lack of experience against top-ranked opponents. However, last week, Dvalishvili appeared to shift his stance on Nurmagomedov in a post on X, stating that he’s ready to take on whoever the UFC places in front of him next.

    O’Malley, for his part, believes “The Machine” is making a smart move by aligning with the UFC’s plans for his future…

    O’Malley Suggests Dvalishvili Could Strain UFC Ties By Refusing Nurmagomedov Fight

    During a recent episode of his TimboSugarShow, O’Malley weighed in on who Dvalishvili should face in his first title defense. “Suga” advised that if the UFC wants the newly crowned champion to take on Nurmagomedov next, he should accept the fight. Otherwise, Dvalishvili risks jeopardizing his relationship with the promotion, which O’Malley believes would be an unwise move.

    “He [Dvalishvili] said he’s not fighting Umar. I’m like, bro, do you not learn from Aljo [Aljamain Sterling]?” O’Malley said. “You’re not going to come out and say, ‘I’m not fighting Umar.’ You’re the champ, and Umar was supposed to be the next guy
 If I’m giving any advice, it’s just f**king don’t go against what the UFC wants. If the UFC wants you to fight Umar, f**king fight Umar. Don’t say, ‘I’m not going to fight Umar.’ It’s like, then you’re not going to have a good relationship with the UFC.”

    Nurmagomedov is fresh off a commanding victory over former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi last month. This triumph not only extended the 28-year-old Dagestani’s unbeaten streak to six but also solidified his standing as a top contender for the bantamweight belt. However, only time will reveal who Dvalishvili will face next.

    Read More: Merab Dvalishvili Explains Why He Questioned Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov & Other Fighters Representing Russia

  • John McCarthy: Merab Dvalishvili Could Have Lost Points For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ At UFC 306

    John McCarthy: Merab Dvalishvili Could Have Lost Points For ‘Unsportsmanlike Conduct’ At UFC 306

    According to former referee John McCarthy, Herb Dean would have been well within his rights to penalize UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili for his actions against Sean O’Malley.

    Dvalishvili secured his long-awaited crowning moment on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage at this month’s UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view. The Georgian topped the lineup, staged inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere, in competition for O’Malley’s title.

    While “Suga” was able to find the fight-ending blow against Dvalishvili’s friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling last year to capture the gold, that wasn’t the case on September 14.

    Instead, “The Machine” used his renowned gas tank and grappling abilities to earn the nod on all three scorecards. But while there was little debate over the decision, there’s been plenty of discussion surrounding other aspects of the fight.

    In addition to a verbal altercation between Dvalishvili and O’Malley’s coach in the opening moments of round one, the second stanza came to a close with controversy after the Georgian used his dominant position to repeatedly kiss the champ’s back.

    The moment almost ended in disaster for Dvalishvili, who took the referee’s calls to stop as the end of the round and turned his back on O’Malley with seconds remaining, leading to him eating a strike.

    But according to McCarthy, Dvalishvili would have faced further consequences had he been officiating the UFC 306 main event…

    McCarthy Recalls Docking Fighter 2 Points For Kissing Opponent In Light Of UFC 306 Moment

    During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside former Strikeforce and UFC fighter Josh Thomson, McCarthy looked back on how Dean officiated the September 14 main event in Las Vegas.

    On the topic of Dvalishvili’s back kisses toward the end of round two, McCarthy recalled how he dealt with a similar situation during his days as an active referee.

    “I’ve been in this position where I had a fighter kiss another fighter. You look and you go…’What the f*ck did you just do?’ It takes you a second to realize, ‘You just f*cking kissed him!’ Then it’s a matter of how you are going to deal with it,” McCarthy said. “I took two points from him. You want to do something that is absolutely not part of our sport, nobody asked you to do it, nobody wants you to do it, and you want to be cute? Congratulations, you better go finish the fight now. I can disqualify you if I want.

    “When that happened, Herb was caught off guard, let’s just be honest,” McCarthy continued. “He should have either made a decisive, ‘Stop! Time, you get over there, you get over there,’ and do something about what just occurred. If he wants to give him a hard warning over it, that’s fine. If he wants to take points, take points for unsportsmanlike conduct, that’s fine. But he got caught in the middle of it.”

    O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, have since given their own verdict on the moment, suggesting that had the referee kept completely out of the way, “Suga” could have launched a potentially fight-ending head kick from behind.

    Alas, that wasn’t to be, and Dvalishvili instead ground out a convincing victory on the scorecards. But with some referees evidently favoring stern punishment for his actions inside the Sphere, perhaps he’ll be a little less keen to place his lips on his next opponent.

  • Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    Jon Anik Outlines ‘Silver Lining’ For The UFC After Sean O’Malley’s Title Loss

    Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik thinks one recent revelation may have boosted the UFC’s spirits following the unseating of Sean O’Malley from the bantamweight throne.

    O’Malley’s reign came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili earlier this month when the pair headlined the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.

    The Georgian challenger closed out the Mexican Independence Day celebration by utilizing his renowned cardio and grappling prowess en route to a convincing unanimous decision triumph over “Suga.”

    That result saw O’Malley’s divisional rule end in his second defense, six months on from his first opposite Marlon “Chito” Vera in Miami. In the eyes of some, “The Machine” played spoiler for the UFC’s plan to ascend O’Malley to superstar status.

    Anik, however, has explained why the organization may not be as down on the Montana native’s loss as many would expect…

    Anik: UFC Avoided Possible Interim Title Scenario With O’Malley Defeat

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Anik reflected on the UFC’s debut event inside the Sphere on September 14, paying particular attention to the result that closed out the show.

    Anik appeared to acknowledge that Dvalishvili’s win was perhaps not the outcome favored by the promotion at the time. But with the revelation regarding “Suga’s” injury — a torn labrum that requires surgery — the commentator suggested that the title changing hands could be a blessing in disguise for the UFC.

    “I think the good news if you’re looking for a silver lining for the UFC is that had Sean won this fight, maybe this hip injury would have had to be repaired anyway, right?” Anik said. “And then you wonder if you need an interim champion. So I think right now, your new champion is pretty durable and willing to take on all challengers.

    “And a murderers’ row, of course, awaits Sean O’Malley with the Cory Sandhagens of all the world and everybody else,” Anik continued. “There are a lot of dream-type matchups at ’35 for fight fans, right? Even Sean O’Malley and Dominick Cruz makes some semblance of sense right now. So there’s a lot of different fights at ’35 that make a lot of sense.”

    It remains to be seen when O’Malley will have his chance to bounce back inside the cage, with the former champ himself giving timelines ranging from eight months to a full one-year layoff.

    But throughout his stint on the sidelines, it would appear that fans are set to see plenty more social media posts claiming victory over Dvalishvili — and alongside that, plenty of X community notes…

  • UFC Veteran Expects ‘Great Champion’ Sean O’Malley To Get Immediate Title Rematch Like Israel Adesanya After Loss

    UFC Veteran Expects ‘Great Champion’ Sean O’Malley To Get Immediate Title Rematch Like Israel Adesanya After Loss

    At the culmination of UFC 306, the consensus was that Merab Dvalishvili had dominated Sean O’Malley to win the bantamweight title. However, the former champion has tried to flip the narrative by claiming he won three rounds and the fight.

    As per O’Malley, he got the better of Dvalishvili in rounds one, three, and five. An immediate rematch seems to be off the table, though. “Suga” requires hip surgery which will keep him out of action for almost a year. In the meantime, “The Machine” can take on contenders such as Umar Nurmagomedov or Deiveson Figueiredo.

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is not a huge fan of the UFC’s reaction to O’Malley losing the title. He believes that the former champ deserves an immediate rematch upon his return and here’s why…

    Chael Sonnen Justifies Sean O’Malley Getting Immediate Title Rematch Because He Could ‘ Move The Needle’ Like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey & Israel Adesanya

    He might be in the minority here, but Sonnen strongly opposed the UFC’s decision to not consider giving O’Malley an immediate rematch on his YouTube channel recently. He backed the claim by calling “Suga” one of the biggest draws in the promotion currently and remembering that he’s headlined events with massive gates (UFC 299 and UFC 306).

    “The American Gangster” then compared O’Malley to Israel Adesanya. He stated that the latter chose his opponents strategically and compensated for it by promoting himself brilliantly. Despite being a good promoter, O’Malley never got this trade-off according to Sonnen. He was bringing in fans, but at the same time, was fighting everyone that the UFC put in front of him.

    “The very first option is the champion that drops the belt gets a rematch for his belt. It was a respect that was shown to every single great champion. And by great champion, I’m talking about champions that could also move the needle. All of them were offered rematches. From Conor on down. More recently, Israel Adesanya. Right into it, I’m sharing with you, all the greats except Sean.”

    Sonnen looked back at O’Malley’s UFC run which included a major bump in competition as Petr Yan. He then fought Sterling to grab the title and defended it against Marlon Vera. Even if he had beaten Dvalishvili, the next contender was already ready for him as Nurmagomedov or Figueiredo.

    All the history, combined with the fact that rounds one, three, and five could’ve potentially gone to O’Malley, is enough for him to get an immediate rematch according to the UFC veteran.

    “Motivation could largely be based upon opportunities. Of which I didn’t see any add, I only saw him taken away. I’m just sharing, that is what I saw. But now you’ve got Merab, you’ve got Nurmagomedov, and you got Figueiredo, and they can’t seem to quite figure it out. Well, there’s also a final option that should’ve come in front of all of them which is if there’s controversy, we look at a rematch. There’s controversy, go see rounds 1, 3, and 5. Watch that without commentating. Come back and tell me you don’t see controversy.”

    O’Malley will be out of action because of injury so it’s safe to assume that at least one UFC bantamweight title fight will happen before his return. With contrasting opinions surrounding his loss, it’ll be interesting to see who “Suga” returns against, though.

  • Aljamain Sterling Details Altercation With Sean O’Malley’s ‘A**hole’ Friends Ahead Of UFC 306

    Aljamain Sterling Details Altercation With Sean O’Malley’s ‘A**hole’ Friends Ahead Of UFC 306

    Aljamain Sterling recently opened up about the events that led to the heated altercation with Sean O’Malley’s entourage before Noche UFC 306.

    Sterling’s close friend and training partner, Merab Dvalishvili, avenged O’Malley with a unanimous decision victory to capture the UFC bantamweight title last Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    In the lead-up to the fight, tensions between the opponents remained mostly verbal, with nothing crossing into personal or physical territory. However, things escalated during the final face-offs last Friday. Sterling and Dvalishvili found themselves in a fiery confrontation with several rowdy “Suga” fans outside the arena while “The Machine” was taking photos with his supporters.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion took to X to clarify that the individuals taunting them were not just random fans but actually two of O’Malley’s close friends, including his podcast producer, Ricky Schmitt.

    Sterling Shares His Reason For Not Retaliating Against O’Malley’s Friends

    During a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s MMA Today, “Funk Master” opened up about the scuffle with O’Malley’s friends outside the Sphere. Sterling explained that both he and Dvalishvili chose not to engage with the naysayers, as they didn’t want to jeopardize the fight they had worked so hard to prepare for by getting caught up in unnecessary drama.

    “When Merab went on the bus after the Friday evening face-off, we saw a whole bunch of people waving him down, so he gets off the bus to go over,” Sterling said. “Now, his minions Sch*tty and the other skinny twig were on the other side. I see these guys screaming and yelling, coming all the way back over to be a*holes. I was like, alright guys, the presser’s done, and now you’re in our personal space. I told him, ‘Dude, you’re really close now, and you’re being straight-up disrespectful. I’m right here now, so if you wanna sit behind this, you’re not very far away from me.’”

    Sterling went on to explain that people have become far too bold in mocking and antagonizing others, especially in public. He hinted that the situation would have played out very differently if there hadn’t been cameras around to capture the scene.

    “People have gotten way too comfortable with just being complete aholes and thinking that there’s nothing wrong with them being aholes. We’re not in the arena where you can chirp and pay up money, now we’re in our personal space, we’re working and being professional with what we’re trying to do, and you’re literally walking over and being a complete prick. There’s nothing cool about that whatsoever.”

    Sterling was set to face Movsar Evloev in a crucial featherweight clash at UFC 308 on October 5, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, earlier this week, “Funk Master” revealed that he was unfortunately forced to pull out of the bout due to an elbow injury.

  • UFC Middleweight Josh Fremd Feels Merab Dvalishvili Didn’t ‘Beat’ Champion Sean O’Malley (Exclusive)

    UFC Middleweight Josh Fremd Feels Merab Dvalishvili Didn’t ‘Beat’ Champion Sean O’Malley (Exclusive)

    Josh Fremd recently voiced his opinion that Merab Dvalishvili didn’t definitively defeat Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili outclassed O’Malley with superior striking and dominant grappling, resoundingly securing the UFC bantamweight title via unanimous decision last weekend at the Las Vegas Sphere.

    “The Machine” racked up six takedowns over the course of the 25-minute bout. He dominated large portions of the fight on the ground, effortlessly nullifying his opponent’s power striking.

    “Suga” endured the most one-sided loss of his career, yet he has since contested the judges’ scorecards. In a series of posts on X, he argued that he should have been awarded the decision, claiming to have won rounds one, three, and five.

    Fremd echoed O’Malley’s sentiments, questioning whether Dvalishvili truly deserved the victory…

    Fremd After Reviewing O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili: ‘It Depends On What The Judges Were Looking For’

    During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Fremd shared his thoughts on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title fight. The UFC middleweight prospect revealed that after rewatching the bout, he felt “Suga” didn’t showcase his full potential, and Dvalishvili’s victory wasn’t as decisive as it seemed.

    Fremd also voiced concerns about the judges’ scorecards, suggesting they may not have accurately reflected the matchup.

    “I thought it looked like O’Malley had an off night,” Fremd said. “After watching it again without commentary or anything like that, I don’t know. I feel like you have to beat, beat the champion, and I don’t know
 after rewatching it, in the moment, it definitely seemed like Merab won with his wrestling, grappling, and dominance. But when you go back and look at it, I don’t know
 it depends on what the judges were looking for and how exactly they scored it. But congrats to Merab, that was an amazing performance.”

    The 30-year-old Colorado native further discussed whether “Suga” deserves an immediate rematch upon his return or if he should face another opponent first to work his way back into the title picture.

    “I think, personally, since he’s such a huge star, he should get an immediate rematch,” Fremd responded. “If not, then him versus [Cory] Sandhagen would be an amazing fight to watch, so either one, I think, works.”

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach All Praise For ‘Genius’ Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306 Performance

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach All Praise For ‘Genius’ Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306 Performance

    Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, recently showered Merab Dvalishvili with high praise for his performance against Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 306.

    “The Machine” lived his dream of becoming the UFC bantamweight champion, overpowering defending titleholder O’Malley in a commanding display last Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

    Dvalishvili put constant forward pressure on “Suga” from the start, shutting down his explosive striking game while overwhelming him with a flurry of takedowns, controlling the majority of the bout with his grappling dominance.

    Heading into the fight, Dvalishvili was viewed as the underdog, with many expecting him to be outclassed by O’Malley’s dynamic striking. However, the 33-year-old Georgian defied all odds.

    Zahabi believes Dvalishvili executed his game plan flawlessly, allowing him to dominate the bout…

    Zahabi Says Dvalishvili Didn’t Throw A ‘Sloppy Punch’ O’Malley Could Counter

    In a recent video on Tristar Gym’s YouTube channel, Zahabi shared his thoughts on the Noche UFC 306 main event between O’Malley and Dvalishvili. The acclaimed MMA coach praised “The Machine” for his precision and tactical awareness, noting how Dvalishvili expertly stayed out of O’Malley’s striking range.

    Zahabi highlighted that the newly crowned champion didn’t throw a single punch that “Suga” could have exploited for an easy counter.

    “When it comes to fighting, that guy [Dvalishvili] is a genius. The guy is really, really smart,” Zahabi said. “His timing was correct, his shot selections were very intelligent. He started off with kicking high. He did everything but throw a punch that you can counter. He did everything except throw a sloppy punch, which O’Malley would have cleaned up.

    Zahabi applauded Dvalishvili’s exceptional cardio, noting that his incredible endurance keeps him relentless throughout the fight. However, he did acknowledge that despite this, Dvalishvili’s inability to secure more finishes remains a point of critique.

    “The only thing you can predict about Merab is he’s gonna shoot for the takedowns, and his cardio is unmatchable. His cardio is ridiculous, guys. The good thing about Merab is his cardio is amazing, his personality is amazing. The bad thing about Merab is he doesn’t finish; he doesn’t even get close to a finish.”

    With his recent victory, Dvalishvili extended his impressive winning streak to 11, adding to his résumé triumphs over former champions like Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, and Petr Yan.

    It remains to be seen who “The Machine” will face in his first title defense, but for now, undefeated rising star Umar Nurmagomedov appears to be the leading contender.

  • Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

    Sandhagen Gives Verdict On ‘Chess Match’ Between Dvalishvili & O’Malley

    The UFC 306 main event may not have been received that well by some sections of the fanbase but it did see the bantamweight title change hands.

    Merab Dvalishvili appeared to be in control for the vast majority of the fight against Sean O’Malley, even if the scorecards tell a different story.

    Though “Suga” was able to hurt his challenger in the fifth and final round, Dvalishvili’s movement, takedowns and reading of the fight were very effective.

    His performance massively impressed the #4-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen who, since the fight, has called next to face O’Malley.

    Cory Sandhagen Gives His Post-Fight Analysis Of UFC 306 Main Event

    In a recent interview with James Lynch for Fanatics View, Sandhagen gave his thoughts on this past weekend’s bantamweight title fight.

    He started by saying that his prediction for the fight had switched as the fight approached, after further consideration.

    “I thought O’Malley was going to catch him until I started getting a little bit closer to the fight and I started talking to other people and getting their opinions and what they thought and blah, blah, blah. I was honestly, and not to change my mind because I’m really bad at calling fights, but I did change my mind in this one and go Merab toward the end of it.

    “Once I started to reflect on how badass it is to go on a 10 or 11 fight win streak and then also never be finished or anything like that, even though he does get clipped in some of his fights, the shots that he got clipped in weren’t necessarily, like they were lead hooks, they weren’t really things that O’Malley even throws, but I thought Merab did awesome.”

    One of the aspects of the fight that Sandhagen was most impressed by was Dvalishvili’s ability to close the distance and shoot for takedowns without putting himself in harm’s way.

    This was always going to be where O’Malley was at his most dangerous but it didn’t end up playing into the outcome.

    “I thought he fought the fight that you should fight if you have Merab’s skill set against O’Malley. I think he moved when he needed to move. The thing that I was most worried about is Merab’s just a very excitable guy and I was worried that he was gonna not be patient and he was going to bounce around and then make a mistake by going in and he was completely patient. He was cool in there, expect for the whole Tim Welch and his thing in the beginning of the fight but man, he just did such an amazing job and that’s a really, really good win because O’Malley is a really serious fighter.”

    Finally, “The Sandman” said that he enjoyed watching this high-stakes clash at the Sphere despite some of the criticisms that it received from fans.

    “I know that a lot of fans were bored with that one or whatever but I really do like watching chess matches and I think that that was Merab just out-chessing O’Malley and that was exciting for me to watch.”

    Read also: ‘His Corner Work Was S**t’ – Former UFC Champ Goes Off On Sean O’Malley’s Coach For Merab Dvalishvili Loss