Sean O’Malley News
Sean O'Malley sends message to fans complaining about UFC 316 rematch with Merab Dvalishvili: "Don't watch!"
Josh Evanoff - April 7, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has responded to critics of his upcoming fight against Merab Dvalishvili. ‘Sugar’ recently signed a deal to face ‘The Machine’ in the main event of UFC 316 in June. The bout will be a rematch of their prior meeting at The Sphere last September, which saw Merab Dvalishvili largely dominate the then-bantamweight champion. Post-fight, Sean O’Malley revealed a litany of injuries that hampered his performance, and called for a rematch. Earlier this month, Dana White granted his wish for a second crack at Dvalishvili.
Sean O’Malley makes surprising admission about ‘borderline embarrassing’ UFC title loss
BJ Penn Staff - April 7, 2025
Sean O’Malley is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC right now, but his reign as the promotion’s bantamweight champ didn’t last long. O’Malley won the bantamweight belt with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling in 2023. After defending his belt with a lopsided decision win over Marlon “Chito” Vera early last year, he then lost the belt last September, suffering a decision loss to Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili.
Sean O’Malley made huge mistake accepting Merab Dvalishvili rematch, says former UFC star
Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 7, 2025
Sean O’Malley has been granted a UFC title rematch, but did he make a mistake? In the main event of UFC 306 inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, O’Malley attempted to successfully defend the UFC Bantamweight Championship against Merab Dvalishvili. The “Suga” show struggled with the wrestling and pressure of Dvalishvili. While O’Malley found some success late in the fight, it wasn’t enough to retain the 135-pound gold.
Former UFC champion questions Sean O’Malley's personal changes ahead of UFC 316
Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 4, 2025
Aljamain Sterling isn’t convinced that Sean O’Malley’s lifestyle adjustments are the answer to his hopes of regaining UFC gold. O’Malley lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship to Merab Dvalishvili in their UFC 306 title fight back in Sept. 2024. The “Sugar” show had to be sidelined after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip. Upon his return to action, O’Malley will be receiving a title rematch against “The Machine” at UFC 316 on June 7.
Sean O’Malley reacts to UFC 316 title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili
Fernando Quiles Jr. - April 2, 2025
Sean O’Malley has shared his first words publicly since the announcement of his UFC 316 title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced that Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 will be held inside the Prudential Center in Newark on June 7. The “Sugar” show lost the UFC Bantamweight Championship to “The Machine” back in Sept. 2024. O’Malley didn’t have an answer for his opponent’s relentless pressure.
Dana White announces two title fights for UFC 316, including Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2
Josh Evanoff - April 1, 2025
UFC 316 will be headlined by Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2, Dana White revealed earlier today. Earlier today, the UFC CEO took to social media to announce several new fights. Sadly, the Fight Night slated for Kansas City later this month has a new main event, following an injury to Jamahal Hill. As a result, ‘Sweet Dreams’ is out of his slated fight against Khalil Rountree Jr., and the bout has been replaced by Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates. However, that welterweight headliner wasn’t the only bout announced earlier today.
Cory Sandhagen reacts to Sean O'Malley likely getting next UFC title shot: "I just wanted to fight him"
Josh Evanoff - March 19, 2025
Cory Sandhagen has no issue with Sean O’Malley getting the next UFC bantamweight title shot. ‘The Sandman’ recently booked his return to the octagon for May in Des Moines. Last suffering a unanimous decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in August, the bantamweight contender will meet former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo next. For his part. ‘Deus da Guerra’ is fresh off a lopsided decision loss to Petr Yan in November. That defeat snapped a three-fight winning streak for the Brazilian.
UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili ranks his last five opponents from hardest to easiest
BJ Penn Staff - March 19, 2025
UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is on one of the best runs in MMA right now, with wins over a host of former champions and undefeated contenders behind him. In a recent conversation with X user @judobetter995, he ranked his five most recent opponents in terms of difficulty.
Song Yadong name drops huge star if he can't get Henry Cejudo rematch following UFC Seattle
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 23, 2025
Song Yadong has a big name in mind if his next fight isn’t a rematch with Henry Cejudo. Yadong went one-on-one with Cejudo in the main event of UFC Seattle this past Saturday night. The bout was competitive on the feet, but Yadong turned things up in round three before accidentally poking “Triple C” in the left eye. While Cejudo made it through the round after taking five minutes to recover, he couldn’t start round four and Yadong was awarded the win via technical decision.
UFC boss Dana White teases the fight "people want to see" at bantamweight
BJ Penn Staff - February 23, 2025
It’s not yet clear who UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili will defend his title against next. However, company president Dana White dropped a big clue following Saturday’s Fight Night card in Seattle. He claimed that Dvalishvili wants to run it back with the man we won the title from last year, Sean O’Malley, and that the feeling is mutual. He also called the rematch a fight “people want to see” at 135 pounds.
Henry Cejudo disputes the idea that Sean O’Malley is some kind of pay-per-view king: “His fights don’t do sh*t, man”
Harry Kettle - February 18, 2025
Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo has disputed the idea that fellow former champ Sean O’Malley is a pay-per-view draw. We all know that Sean O’Malley is a big star in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has done some incredible things during his time with the promotion, and that much is an understatement. From viral knockouts to winning and defending the bantamweight championship, he is the definition of a household name.
Merab Dvalishvili names two potential contenders for next UFC bantamweight title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - February 14, 2025
Merab Dvalishvili has two possible challengers in mind for his UFC Bantamweight Championship. Dvalishvili is riding high following his impressive performance against Umar Nurmagomedov in the co-main event of UFC 311. The Georgian titleholder was able to thwart his opponent’s grappling efforts and managed to outwork him for a unanimous decision victory. It was the first successful title defense for Dvalishvili and now he is looking ahead.
ONE Championship's Jonathan Haggerty teases idea of showdown with UFC's Sean O'Malley
BJPENN.COM Staff - January 28, 2025
ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Haggerty knows how to rile up combat sports fans. In his latest attempt, “The General” took to his Instagram story with an altered image of him battling former UFC Bantamweight World Champion “Sugar” Sean O’Malley.
Cory Sandhagen calls for a showdown with former UFC champion Sean O'Malley: "He's going to get beat up"
Josh Evanoff - January 23, 2025
Cory Sandhagen wants a fight against former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. ‘Sugar’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since a September title defense against Merab Dvalishvili. The bout was Sean O’Malley’s second defense of bantamweight gold, having scored a decision win over Marlon Vera last April. Ultimately, ‘The Machine’ wound up outwresting the champion en route to a unanimous decision win in the main event of Noche UFC, ending the striker’s title reign.
Sean O'Malley's coach believes a healthy 'Suga' is Merab Dvalishvili's 'kryptonite': "We take him out"
Cole Shelton - January 20, 2025
Tim Welch the coach of Sean O’Malley believes his fighter is the kryptonite for Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley lost his bantamweight title to Dvalishvili in September at the Sphere. Dvalishvili was able to impose his will with his cardio and wrestling to win the fight. However, O’Malley was injured in the fight which Welch believes played a big role.
Tim Welch explains why Sean O’Malley ditched social media following UFC title loss to Merab Dvalishvili
Fernando Quiles Jr. - January 8, 2025
Sean O’Malley has taken a break from social media, and his head coach has explained why. O’Malley is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. It’s an injury that “Suga” was dealing with prior to his UFC Bantamweight Championship loss to Merab Dvalishvili. While some might’ve thought that the time away from training would make O’Malley want to rev up his business on social media, that isn’t the case.
Sean O'Malley hopes to compete in future UFC Japan event after attending RIZIN 49: "There's good energy here"
Josh Evanoff - January 1, 2025
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley wants to fight in Japan. ‘Sugar’ hasn’t been seen in the cage since his title defense against Merab Dvalishvili in September. Just over a year after becoming champion after beating Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley’s title reign came to an end. ‘The Machine’ dominated in the UFC 306 headliner, ultimately earning a unanimous decision.
Sean O'Malley explains why he's taking a break from social media
Harry Kettle - December 27, 2024
UFC star Sean O’Malley has explained why he wants to take a break from social media ahead of his proposed return to the cage. As we know, Sean O’Malley is one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. He has accomplished some amazing things throughout the course of his career, including becoming UFC bantamweight champion.