Georgian MMA fighter Merab Dvalishvili didn’t mince words when asked about his opinion about not having the title shot to fight UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 299. According to Dvalishvili, the promotion company is after making pay-per-view sales, pushing the company to continuously give the American an easier opponent to fight.
O’Malley will come from his success in fighting Aljamain Sterling last August. On March 9, 2024, the current bantamweight champ will be facing Marlon Vera for a rematch after the Ecuadorian defeated him in their August 2020 bout. While a rematch between the two sounds just rational, the news is not pleasing Dvalishvili, who many believe deserves the title shot more than Vera, thanks to his nine-bout winning streak and top 2 rank.
Dvalishvili affirms the idea. Although the Georgian called the UFC’s decision “bullsh*t,” he expressed understanding of the situation in a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Nolan King.
“It’s crazy. I win nine fights straight, I beat two former champions, and I still don’t get a title shot,” Dvalishvili said. “The timing, right? Now, O’Malley’s champion. In my opinion, they want to keep him as long as possible as champion. I think I’m a bad stylistic match for him. I mean, in my opinion, I can beat him because styles make fights.
“I think that’s what they’re thinking too. Because if they (UFC) think I’m easy, I’m sure they would give me to him (O’Malley),” Dvalishvili continued. “They want to keep him long. It’s not a secret, O’Malley makes money… If I beat O’Malley, who’s gonna sell pay-per-views? I think that’s how it goes. I understand… They are smart.”
