Sean O’Malley expressed regret regarding his performance in the recent bantamweight title bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, wishing he had approached certain moments differently in the disappointing loss.
Challenging Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC Bantamweight title at UFC 316, the American fighter ultimately failed to defend his championship belt, losing to Dvalishvili in their encounter.
O`Malley had reportedly made significant changes to his lifestyle in preparation for the fight, aiming for optimal performance against the Georgian contender, but was defeated in the night`s headlining bout.
The fight concluded in the third round when Dvalishvili secured a chokehold, leading O`Malley to tap out. This decisive victory allowed Dvalishvili to successfully defend his UFC Bantamweight championship.
Following the loss in New Jersey, O`Malley expressed certain regrets regarding his strategy and understanding of the fight`s outcome.
O`Malley Expresses Desire to Withstand Choke Longer
O’Malley specifically identified the precise error that he believes cost him the match against Dvalishvili.
“Suga” submitted to the chokehold in the third round with just 18 seconds remaining on the clock. He admitted afterwards that had he been aware of how little time was left, he would have attempted to endure the submission attempt for longer.
Avoiding Surgery a Silver Lining for O`Malley Post-Fight
In a subsequent statement, O’Malley revealed that one positive takeaway from the defeat was avoiding the need for surgery following the fight.
He noted this as a positive contrast to his previous title fight where he secured the belt but then required surgery, resulting in a difficult period for “Suga.”
Gareth Pendleton