There was virtually a collective groan when the UFC 316 foremost occasion was introduced for a rematch between bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley.
The curious matchmaking got here collectively after Dvalishvili definitively beat O’Malley for the title this previous September after which went onto defend his belt in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov in January. In the meantime, O’Malley hasn’t fought since dropping the battle to Dvalishvili and he was just one protection into his title reign earlier than dropping the belt, which made a direct rematch appear unlikely.
However regardless of the detrimental response to the battle, UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen understood why the rematch obtained made, particularly when trying on the lay of the land at 135 kilos.
“I believe that the O’Malley battle, it’s simply a type of conditions the place there’s actually no person else,” Sandhagen instructed MMA Preventing. “I don’t actually care to be an excessive amount of of a hater on O’Malley as a result of if there’s one golden shiny person who ought to be preventing for the belt subsequent, then it could really feel a bit bit incorrect.
“However in O’Malley’s protection, there actually isn’t anybody else. I’m coming off of a loss. Umar [Nurmagomedov] simply misplaced for the title. [Petr] Yan has misplaced to each of them already. I believe that’s simply a type of conditions.”
It’s robust to argue in opposition to that logic until Dvalishvili finally ends up sitting out for a major period of time ready for a brand new contender to emerge.
For his half, Sandhagen hopes he states his case for that subsequent title shot when he faces Deiveson Figueiredo within the upcoming UFC Des Moines card from Iowa on Could 3.
“I’ll say and I believe that I’m going to have the ability to make some waves after this battle if I am going out and win the way in which that I do know that I can,” Sandhagen stated. “As a result of particularly in opposition to a man like Figgy, I do know I can look very, excellent in opposition to and really spectacular in opposition to simply because our types work effectively for that for me, I believe that if I am going out and try this, I believe I might be the following man to battle for the belt, which like I stated, if you consider it, O’Malley or Merab wins, no matter who it’s, the complete world needs to observe me and O’Malley battle actually badly. That’s what the followers are actually asking for.
“Then Merab, I’m the one one which he hasn’t needed to battle within the prime 5 proper now. I do suppose if I can exit and be actually spectacular, I’ll put myself in a spot the place there’s nobody else so let’s select Cory, which might be very nice to have occur to me as soon as as a substitute of me getting so shut after which dropping and having another person soar in there. That’s what I’m banking on. I’m even going to ask them if I might be the backup fighter in June proper after that one so I’ll simply prepare proper there that for one more couple of weeks. Hopefully that will probably be what my 12 months seems to be like, preventing for the belt on the finish of it.”
The timing couldn’t work out a lot better for Sandhagen and he makes a sound level concerning the bantamweight division, particularly if he can exit and eliminate Figueiredo in spectacular style.
Doubtlessly serving because the backup to the title battle wouldn’t damage his possibilities both.
So far as the rematch goes, Sandhagen doesn’t know if sufficient has modified for O’Malley to get previous Dvalishvili contemplating how their preliminary assembly ended.
“I believe that O’Malley’s manner of successful that first battle was to catch Merab,” Sandhagen defined. “That’s at all times the enjoyable half about MMA, you by no means actually know what’s going to occur as a result of there may be that means for the battle to finish like this. I believe that was O’Malley’s means to win in opposition to a Merab. O’Malley’s wrestling isn’t nearly as good because it must be with a purpose to beat a Merab or to cease that man’s shot or to rise up considerably fast so that it cancels out. He’s simply not that sort of grappler.
“Possibly he’s gotten so much higher, I don’t know however I imply any time you give the puncher’s likelihood man one other full 25 minutes to determine it out, he would possibly. He’s actually good at it. He did it in opposition to [Aljamain] Sterling. But when I have been a betting man, I’d most likely put my cash on Merab as a result of betting on the puncher’s likelihood man, I don’t suppose it’s statistically the way in which that it at all times works out. That’s what makes this sport enjoyable.”
Whereas O’Malley claimed after rewatching the primary battle that he deserved to get the victory, Sandhagen believes that’s simply the previous champion doing his half to persuade the world that he ought to get this rematch.
“The battle wasn’t shut,” Sandhagen stated. “Merab was in command of that battle virtually the complete time. However that’s what guys on this sport do. They’ve one thing occur, they modify the narrative round it a bit bit after which individuals begin believing that narrative as a result of that’s how advertising works.
“That’s most likely why he’s preventing for the belt now over me! Not precisely however yeah, so some individuals play it sensible. I type of play it silly and sincere however that’s simply the way in which I’m.”
Expectations for the rematch may appear low proper now however Sandhagen nonetheless expects an entertaining title when Dvalishvili and O’Malley meet once more in June.
Greater than something, Sandhagen simply needs to get the job finished in opposition to Figueiredo on Could 3 so he can then flip his full consideration to that title battle with hopes that he’ll get the winner earlier than the tip of 2025.
“It’s not going to be a foul battle,” Sandhagen stated. “Even the primary battle wasn’t horrible. I believe that O’Malley, he type of got here out and stated it, too, he type of overpromised and underdelivered. Possibly this time he gained’t attempt to overpromise so there gained’t be an excessive amount of expectation across the battle. It’s arduous for me to think about that battle going any otherwise however I hope O’Malley wins.
“He’s an thrilling man to have the division as champ and like I stated, the complete world needs to observe me and O’Malley battle. I believe that will probably be a really convincing argument for me to take to the UFC if I am going out and beat Figgy the way in which that I can and O’Malley beats Merab the way in which that perhaps he can. I believe that might be a fairly thrilling and convincing argument to deliver to the UFC after this one.”
