Written by Sean O’Malley believes UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili wants no part of Umar Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) emerged as No. 1 contender after outlasting Cory Sandhagen in the UFC on ABC 7 main event in August. A month later, Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) dethroned O’Malley to become bantamweight champion at UFC 306.
O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is convinced he was robbed against Dvalishvili and called for a rematch – something Dvalishvili is willing to entertain. Nurmagomedov is convinced Dvalishvili is ducking him, and O’Malley agrees. He sees it as an opportunity to slide into the title fight after recovering from hip surgery.
“Merab vs. Umar, why is this not being announced?,” O’Malley said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Why aren’t they fighting in November? Why aren’t they fighting in December? I think January is – wasn’t January Islam (Makhachev)? I mean, I don’t know. Umar said that he’s down to take a fight that’s not Merab if Merab wants to wait blah, blah, blah.
“So I’m here, I’m ready to – well, not ready to go yet. I’ll be ready. He would prefer me. I think he’s actually terrified of Umar if I’m being honest. Not trying to troll, not trying to be goofy, I think Merab’s scared of Umar and would rather fight me. He would probably look at me as an easier fight. So yeah, I think he would pick that if he could.”
O’Malley is hoping to return in the first quarter of 2024 after undergoing surgery for a torn left labrum earlier this month.
“I’m saying March or April,” O’Malley said. “I’m doing everything I can do to get back in there. My mindset, my ambition, my drive, everything is at an all-time high. I want to get back in the gym. I want to get back to work. I want to get back on the mats. I want to make that walk again, and I want Merab next.
“I know I’m better than him. I need to right that wrong. I think Miami would just be sweet. That’s where I got to prove to everyone – for three-and-a-half years, I kept saying, ‘I’m better than ‘Chito’ (Vera), I’m better than ‘Chito.’ That was bullsh*t,’ and Miami, this year, I got to prove that. So, I would like to go back to Miami and prove that once again. Rematch Merab, that’s what I want.”