Sean O’Malley has insisted that he’s ‘definitely improved’ ahead of his UFC title rematch with Merab Dvalishvili.
O’Malley has the chance to reclaim bantamweight gold when he fights Dvalishvili at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, on June 8.
O’Malley meets Dvalishvili for the second time at UFC 316 on June 8GettyDvalishvili dethroned O’Malley of the UFC bantamweight title in September 2024, dominating ‘Suga’ in parts to earn a unanimous decision victory.
During the five-round main event bout at UFC 306, Dvalishvili was able to hold O’Malley on the ground for long periods, utilising his clearly superior wrestling skills to complete six of 15 attempted takedowns.
It was evident that O’Malley has prioritised his striking ahead of the bout with the hope of knocking the Georgian out cold.
However, speaking to Jim Rome, the 30-year-old outlined how there has been a clear shift in his preparation for UFC 316.
“Every training camp you go through, you get a little bit better, you get a little bit better,” he said.
“This training camp has been a long training camp. It’s been a lot of grappling, just a lot of grappling, that’s all we’ve been doing, and when you’re doing that five or six days a week, you’re going to improve.
“We’ve been in camp for a long time now. We’ve done about 12 or 13 weeks of focusing on Merab, focusing on getting better in that area.
“It’s been a long camp. I’ve definitely improved.”
O’Malley was then asked how he can find a path to victory against Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316.
“I gotta win the first three rounds and win the last two rounds,” he responded.
O’Malley has revealed that his training camp has focused purely on grappling for UFC 316 Dvalishvili is the UFC bantamweight champion and on a 12-fight win streakGetty“I gotta break ‘The Machine’. I gotta beat him, win the positions [on the canvas].
“I know I can beat Merab. He’s open to be getting knocked out.
“I’m very confident that I can put his lights out, I’m also confident I can beat him in a five round fight.”
UFC fans were worried for O’Malley ahead of the rematch when he posted training footage of a heavy striking session, but ‘Suga’ has now cleared up those doubts.
It also would’ve been very obvious just based on both men’s first fight that O’Malley would have a much better chance of winning if he improved his wrestling.
And that’s exactly what he’s done, while also bringing in former UFC champions like Demetrious Johnson to help in his camp.
O’Malley has also quit social media ahead of his rematch with DvalishviliGettyThis isn’t the only change the former UFC champion has made for the rematch.
O’Malley announced last December that he was quitting social media, saying he needed a ‘detox’ from his phone as it was the ‘biggest distraction’ in his life.
“I’ve already started reading more, and writing more,” he said at the time.
“It’s just going to force me to continue to do stuff like that, and that’s where I feel like I’m going to be able to learn this lesson of whatever is trying to be taught to me.”
‘Suga’ concluded in his interview with Rome by revealing that he’s stuck to his ‘life changing’ break, saying he has a designated time to take care of that stuff now.
He has made the changes solely for his own ‘piece of mind’ while aiming towards his one and only goal of becoming a two-time UFC champion in 2024.
UFC 316 pay-per-view card
Two title fights at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley – Men’s bantamweight title fight
Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison – Women’s bantamweight title fight
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer – Middleweight
Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix – Bantamweight
Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland – Welterweight
UFC 316 takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Julianna Pena defends her women’s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison in the co-main event.
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