For the reason that April Idiot’s Day announcement {that a} rematch between bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former titleholder Sean O’Malley would headline the UFC 316 combat card, many have questioned whether or not O’Malley deserves it.
O’Malley misplaced the title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September and has been sidelined for the reason that loss recovering from hip surgical procedure. Dvalishvili efficiently defend the title at UFC 311 in January, defeating Umar Nurmagomedov by way of determination.
Whereas critics of the combat do not assume “Suga” deserves a direct rematch, Dvalishvili disagrees.
“I believe even a number of individuals criticize O’Malley getting a rematch. I believe he deserves it. And I need to discover out too. He made a number of excuses after the combat,” Dvalishvili stated throughout an look on The Ariel Helwani Present.
“Now he did surgical procedure, and I do know he’ll make changes and he’ll change sport plan. It may be a very completely different combat. Like O’Malley stated, ‘In case you do not prefer it, do not watch it.'”
Dvalishvili’s win over O’Malley was by unanimous determination however he solely received a single spherical greater than O’Malley on two of the judges’ scorecards. O’Malley estimates he’ll be 70% higher within the rematch after a profitable surgical procedure has given him the flexibility to correctly put together.
“It may be a superb combat as a result of I will make changes too as a result of I do know O’Malley will include a distinct sport plan,” stated Dvalishvili. “I do know he’ll assault me from the start with physique kicks and placing. And I need to check my placing too.
“Once I was combating for the title the primary time, I used to be extra sensible, extra sport. This time I am the champion and I’ll go for it. It may be an excellent combat.”
The rematch goes down on June seventh on the Prudential Middle in Newark, New Jersey.
