Sean O’Malley, the former UFC bantamweight champion, faced a tough defeat at UFC 316 when he lost to Merab Dvalishvili by submission in the third round, failing to regain the bantamweight title. Recently, O’Malley openly reflected on losing to Dvalishvili for the second consecutive time, sharing insights about his mindset and the fight itself.
O’Malley Opens Up About Facing Dvalishvili Again
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, O’Malley described how handling the loss the second time was less challenging compared to his first defeat, which was compounded by surgery shortly after the fight. He explained,
“It was a lot easier to deal with the second time around. The first time having a surgery right after the fight – coming off a loss and surgery back-to-back, that’s difficult. Coming off the loss, still healthy, feel good, family’s healthy, everything is good, it’s a lot easier to deal with. Merab’s good. He’s No. 2 on the pound-for-pound list right now. He’s got a good style to beat me and yeah, it is what it is.”
—Sean O’Malley, UFC fighter
When asked if he was fully healthy before the fight, O’Malley responded with honesty about the nature of professional fighting camps:
“I don’t think anyone goes in there 100% healthy, but I had a great camp. I was able to wrestle, was able to do most of what I need to. I went in there very confident, very ready to go.”
—Sean O’Malley, UFC fighter
Unlike past losses where O’Malley made excuses, he seems to have accepted the result with a more grounded perspective, noting that having a healthy family helps him cope with professional setbacks.
The Story Behind O’Malley’s Walkout Song Change at UFC 316
O’Malley usually enters the octagon to Lupe Fiasco’s “Superstar,” but at UFC 316, he chose a different track: Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” He explained this switch during the same interview, associating it with the atmosphere at the event, including the presence of Donald Trump.
“I just randomly kind of wanted to switch it up and then I had that song in mind and then they said [Donald] Trump’s going to be there. I was like these are all great signs for me to win – didn’t happen. But the walkout was a cool memory. It was bad a**.”
—Sean O’Malley, UFC fighter
He further elaborated on his mindset leading up to the fight, revealing a surge of patriotic feeling inspired by a recent documentary he watched:
“I was feeling super American. I watched that Netflix O**ma bin Laden [documentary] a couple of weeks before the fight and I was just feeling American as f**k. I was like, let’s go beat this little Russian or little Georgian or whatever.”
—Sean O’Malley, UFC fighter
This choice and mindset reflected a significant moment for O’Malley, highlighting the intense emotional and psychological preparation involved, even if the outcome was not what he hoped for.
What This Means for O’Malley’s Future in the UFC
With two consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili, who now ranks second on the pound-for-pound list, Sean O’Malley faces a critical juncture in his career. His acceptance of the defeats and acknowledgment of Dvalishvili’s effective style indicate a readiness to adapt and improve. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how O’Malley responds in upcoming bouts.
His reflections reveal both the challenges of elite competition and the resilience required to remain at the sport’s top level. As O’Malley continues to recover physically and mentally, his next steps in the bantamweight division will be crucial in shaping his legacy.