Sean O’Malley Wants Merab Dvalishvili Trilogy Despite Lack of Interest
Sean O’Malley wants another opportunity to face Merab Dvalishvili, despite believing that fans are not interested in seeing the bantamweight rivals meet for a third time.
O’Malley suffered two defeats against Dvalishvili, with the Georgian fighter winning their first encounter at UFC 306 in September 2024 by unanimous decision. Dvalishvili then defended his bantamweight title against O’Malley in their rematch at UFC 316 in June 2025, submitting the American in the third round.
The back-to-back losses left O’Malley with unfinished business against the former champion, and he remains interested in securing a victory over the only opponent he says has beaten him.
Speaking to Bradley Martyn, O’Malley acknowledged that a trilogy fight might not be what the public wants right now, but made it clear that he personally wants the opportunity to settle the rivalry.
“I need to get that one back, but it’s like no one wants to f*cking see that right now. I do. He’s the only person I ever lost to.
“It’s the only loss I have on my record. I would love to get that back.”
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Can O’Malley Get a Third Fight With Dvalishvili?
The biggest obstacle to a trilogy is whether the UFC sees enough demand to justify booking the matchup again. O’Malley lost both previous encounters, and another meeting would require the promotion to weigh his personal desire for revenge against the bantamweight division’s other contenders.
Dvalishvili’s recent rivalry with Petr Yan has also affected the title picture. Yan defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026, further complicating the question of what comes next for the former champion and the rest of the division.
For O’Malley, however, the motivation is straightforward. He wants to prove he can beat the man who handed him two consecutive defeats.
Whether the UFC agrees to make the fight remains uncertain. For now, O’Malley’s comments make one thing clear: he would welcome another opportunity to face Dvalishvili, even if the matchup does not appear to be a major fan demand.
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