Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) celebrates after winning a UFC bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov (not pictured) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Merab Dvalishvili Lays Out Bold Future Plans After Handling Business Against Sean O’Malley

Merab Dvalishvili’s wants to beat Sean O’Malley in the rematch, shares his grand plans post-UFC 316!

Some fighters in the UFC grab the belt and disappear for months. Others turn into fighting machines who defend their titles like their lives depend on it. Merab Dvalishvili clearly belongs in the second category. The Georgian wrestler snatched the bantamweight title from Sean O’Malley in their first encounter. But ‘The Machine’ isn’t the type to rest on his accomplishments or milk his championship status for easy paydays.

Dvalishvili earned his nickname through years of non-stop action inside the octagon. His fights rarely end early, but they are always entertaining because of his constant forward pressure and scrambling ability. The 33-year-old has that old-school mentality where champions fight frequently and prove their worth against all comers. Now he’s preparing for his second defense against O’Malley at UFC 316 and he’s already thinking way beyond that rematch.

Also Read: Who Can Face Tom Aspinall If Jon Jones Is Stripped Of The Title?

Merab Dvalishvili Reveals His Ambitious Schedule

Most UFC champions are happy to fight twice per year if they’re feeling generous. Dvalishvili wants to squeeze three title defenses into 2025, which sounds crazy. He is set to fight the O’Malley rematch in June, followed by potential bouts in Mexico and either New York or Las Vegas later in the year. The bantamweight champion told ESPN he only plans to take one month off after UFC 316 before jumping back into training camp.

“I don’t look at this one like an easy fight. It’s going to be a challenge, but after that, I want to be busy. I’m just going to take only one month off, and I will be back to training camp. I heard they will have a fight in Guadalajara, Mexico. I would like to fight there and I would like to fight in New York or December, Vegas. Let’s see if we get this one and two more this year.”

The last time Dvalishvili fought three times in one year was back in 2020, when he was still climbing the rankings. Most fighters slow down their activity once they reach the top, but ‘The Machine’ seems determined to buck that trend. His willingness to stay active makes perfect business sense too. Active champions generate more buzz, sell more pay-per-views, and keep their names in the headlines.

Fighting in Guadalajara would tap into the massive Mexican fanbase that loves MMA. A December fight in Las Vegas during the holidays could anchor a major pay-per-view event. New York always brings energy and media attention. The bantamweight division could use this kind of activity from its champion. ‘The Machine’ seems determined to prove that champions should earn their keep by fighting the best challengers as often as possible.

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Merab Dvalishvili

Sean O’Malley

UFC 316

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!