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Merab Dvalishvili captured the bantamweight title at UFC 306 by defeating Sean O'Malley via unanimous decision at Noche UFC 306 last month. He recently hinted at possibly taking some time away from the octagon for business obligations while sharing that he would accept any opponent, but prefers a rematch against 'Suga'.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, 'The Machine' pointed out that he has made weight three times in 2024 while adding he is just taking time like every champion does:
"I'm a champion and then what I see, every champion takes time and enjoys [it] and traveling and [doing] business and I'm doing [the] same thing. Usually, if I get two [fights] in one year, it's very good in [the] UFC. I already fought two times [in] 2024. I want to fight three times in 2025 and that's my plan if it works out so I don't know why people [are] blaming me. I don't want to come back [in] December. It's stupid. I'm a champion now and I want to take my time off. I want to enjoy my time."
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Dvalishvili continued:
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"If [the] UFC offers me Sean O'Malley, I would love to fight him. If [the] UFC offers me somebody else, I will fight. I'm a champion now and I'm not making - I don't know, maybe some champions makes decisions, but I don't care. They'll give me whoever is the next contender and I will fight, but my best option will be Sean O'Malley, but only if [the] UFC wants me to fight Sean O'Malley. This way I will fight him. If not, anybody else. We will see."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments on his title defense plans below (15:00):
Dvalishvili added that fights are coming up in the division that could have title implications. Petr Yan is set to face Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night 248, while Umar Nurmagomedov is reportedly set to face Song Yadong at UFC on ESPN 63. It is unclear who the promotion will have 'The Machine' face in his first title defense.
Merab Dvalishvili addresses Sean O'Malley's claims that he won their UFC 306 clash
Despite suffering a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, Sean O'Malley has labeled himself as the rightful winner and demanded a rematch. 'The Machine' was asked for his reaction to 'Suga's' claims during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, responding:
"Yes, he won this fight. Listen, I don't have a reaction. I'm not mad. Actually, I want him to promote this and I want more people to believe this and I want to fight him. Like I told you, I will not kiss him this time. I will try. I will try because I like him, but this time I will finish him. I will finish the fight. I will finish business. I'm not going to listen to Herb Dean and I'm going to go for a finish. I'm not mad when I see this. It's okay. I wish a rematch happens."
Check out Merab Dvalishvili's comments below (24:08):
Dvalishvili added he will be ready to make his return to the octagon in February and will face any opponent the UFC offers. While both fighters have expressed interest in an immediate rematch, it is unclear if that is the promotion's plan.
