While not everyone was thrilled to see Sean
O’Malley get an immediate title shot after losing the belt last
September, Merab
Dvalishvili believes a rematch was the best possible
option.
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“No, I wasn’t surprised because right now, Sean is the clear
contender,” Dvalishvili told Stake. “Cory
Sandhagen just won, [Petr] Yan maybe, but I already beat him.
The UFC gave me this decision, and I think Sean will make some
adjustments and this will be a really tough fight. I respect him a
lot, but I am ready to do my job.”
Dvalishvili will give O’Malley a rematch in the UFC 316
headliner on Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New
Jersey. “The Machine” claimed the 135-pound belt with a clear-cut
unanimous decision victory against “Suga” at UFC 306. While
O’Malley has been sidelined since then, Dvalishvili made a
successful title defense against Umar
Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January.
It took Dvalishvili, who has been victorious in 12 consecutive
Octagon appearances, quite some time to finally reach the top of
the division. He says life hasn’t changed much now that he is a
UFC champion.
“I still live in the same house, I still have the same friends,
still have the same good people around me,” he said. “I think that
if I have changed, it’s only in good ways. I’ve become more humble.
Now I have more opportunities to help people and motivate the young
generation by giving them good advice and showing them a good
example. I am grateful, so blessed and before I never dreamed of
becoming champion because of where I come from. But now I have this
respect, and a gold belt, but like I said, I am more humble and
grateful for life.”
A new contender could emerge on Saturday, when ex-Bellator
MMA champ Patrick „Patchy“ Mix makes his Octagon debut against Mario
Bautista on the UFC 316 main card. Mix has long been regarded
as one of the top bantamweight talents in the world — regardless of
promotion — and Dvalishvili already has some familiarity with the
New York native.
“Patchy Mix is a very good fighter,” Dvalishvili said. “I train
with him once in a while, and he’s one of the toughest sparring
partners. We’ve talked before and I am happy for him that he’s in
the UFC now, and if we have to fight in the future for the belt,
it’s nothing personal. This is his family and my family, and we’re
going to share the Octagon respectfully and shake hands after the
fight and wish each other best.”