Sean O’Malley changes tune as he calls for Merab Dvalishvili after Marlon Vera at UFC 299: “I’m knocking that dude out”

Sean O’Malley has changed his tune and is now interested in fighting Merab Dvalishvili.

O’Malley said the plan was to fight Ilia Topuria for the featherweigh title if he gets past Marlon Vera. However, after hearing all the fans call for Dvalishvili get the next title shot, ‘Suga’ says he will grant that as he’s confident he would KO the Georgian.

Sean O’Malley says he rewatched Merab vs Henry and doesn’t want to fight Ilia Topuria anymore.

He says he thought the fans would want him vs Ilia, but since they want him to fight Merab he says that’s next.

“When I fight Merab, I’m knocking that dude out. He’s sloppy. I’m… pic.twitter.com/cUoueP06oA

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 22, 2024

“Boys, just watched Henry vs. Merab for the first time, re-watched it on the TV, and here are my thoughts. Well, let me start with this, initially, I was calling for Ilia, I wanted the Ilia fight, I wanted that fight, it excites me but I also thought the fans would get excited about it. I got a lot of pushback saying I got a lot of pushback saying you are ducking Merab, Merab is next. So, Merab’s next, let’s do Merab. I’m telling you guys, I knock Merab out, I re-watched Henry vs. Aljo after I was there and I told you guys I’m knocking Aljo out,” Sean O’Malley said.

“All you guys said no way you aren’t knocking Aljo out, he’s going to take you down and kill you. Here we go again. Obviously, have to get through ‘Chito’ but I’m telling you guys if I fight Merab, when I fight Merab, I’m knocking that dude out. He’s sloppy. I’m accurate. I’m too fast, I’m too sharp, I’m telling you boys. I put Merab’s lights out, worse than Aljo. Aljo a little TKO, Merab I’m putting to sleep, turning his nose straight,” O’Malley continued.

Although Sean O’Malley wanted to face Ilia Topuria next time out, he says Merab Dvalishvili can get the next title shot and he’s looking forward to proving his doubters wrong again. It also goes with what Dana White said after UFC 298 as he revealed Dvalishvili would get the next title shot.

But, before O’Malley is even going to get the chance to fight Merab Dvalishvili, he will need to beat Marlon Vera in the rematch of UFC 299 on March 9. The two fought back in 2020 and it was Vera who won by first-round TKO as O’Malley suffered an ankle injury and has vowed, he will KO Vera in the rematch.