Sean O’Malley Strongly Believes He Can be Unbeatable Merab Dvalishvili’s Kryptonite

UFC superstar Sean O'Malley talks about the only way to stop Merab Dvalishvili's dominant title run.

Sean O’Malley Strongly Believes He Can be Unbeatable Merab Dvalishvili’s Kryptonite

Sean O'Malley believes only he can knock out Merab Dvalishvili (via X)

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Last weekend at UFC 320, Merab Dvalishvili showcased his dominance by defending his bantamweight title for the third time. The Georgian outclassed top contender Cory Sandhagen with relentless pressure, securing a decisive unanimous victory in the co-main event. Following the bout, Sean O’Malley claimed there’s only one possible strategy to stop the unstoppable ‘Machine’ inside the Octagon.

Dvalishvili is widely known for his unmatched cardio and ability to dominate opponents with relentless takedown attempts across five rounds. Although Sandhagen started strong in the early exchanges, the reigning champion gradually took full control as the fight progressed further. 

The ‘Sandman’ was disappointed with his performance and mentioned that it was a winnable bout, and he would bounce back. After the UFC 320 PPV, the former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley discussed the bout and claimed that only he possessed the skillset capable of defeating Merab Dvalishvili.

To beat Merab, you just have to land that shot. You have to be able to (expletive) snipe him. He’s getting a little bit more reckless the more confident he gets in striking, the more gaps it leaves open to be caught. I don’t see anyone really beating Merab anytime soon. He needs to be clipped, knocked out, and put to sleep to beat him. I just don’t see anyone other than myself being able to do that.

Sean O’Malley via YouTube 

O’Malley has already faced Merab Dvalishvili twice, losing both encounters, with the latest ending in a submission loss at UFC 316. In their first meeting, ‘Suga’ appeared completely ineffective, struggling to match the relentless pace and pressure of the Georgian powerhouse.

However, as Sean O’Malley pointed out, Dvalishvili has been visibly hurt multiple times, including nearly losing balance after a strike from Umar Nurmagomedov. Among the top bantamweights, only O’Malley possesses the kind of knockout power that initially helped him capture the UFC belt. 

Nevertheless, to land that one perfect shot, he must first face Merab Dvalishvili again, which requires regaining the top contender position. Despite the challenging odds, Sean O’Malley has already expressed interest in facing the ‘Machine’ at the highly anticipated White House event.

Merab Dvalishvili to make a quick return soon?

Merab Dvalishvili completely dominated Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, showcasing his relentless wrestling by landing an astonishing 20 takedowns in a title fight. Dvalishvili’s performance placed him just behind Khabib Nurmagomedov for the most takedowns recorded in a single UFC bout.

Merab Dvalishvili is celebrating after his recent win
Merab Dvalishvili is celebrating after his recent win (via X)

With this feat, Dvalishvili also became the first fighter ever in UFC history to officially record 100 career takedowns. The Georgian star has remained undefeated for the past seven years, maintaining an impressive 14-fight winning streak across multiple opponents.

According to Daniel Cormier, Merab Dvalishvili has officially earned recognition as the bantamweight GOAT, defeating veterans including Dominick Cruz. Following the win, the ‘Machine’ also talked about potentially coming back and fighting for the fourth time this year. While discussing this, his coach, John Wood, shared his objection to focusing on recovery. 

I’d prefer for him to rest properly and recover. Merab’s camps aren’t much different from his off-camp time — he trains every single day. Could he fight again and defend his belt four times in a year? Absolutely. Can his body handle it? Absolutely. Would I want that? Fifty-fifty. Personally, I’d want a break, because Merab’s camps are the toughest. He wears me out like no one else. I lose about 15 pounds during a camp with him.

John Wood via The Ariel Helwani Show 

Merab Dvalishvili has expressed interest in facing former champion Petr Yan next, adding another exciting chapter to his dominant reign. He also hinted at a potential rematch with old rival Umar Nurmagomedov, promising an intense clash given their bad blood. It will be interesting to see what’s next for the champion and how soon he returns to action.

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