Former UFC bantamweight champion (up to 61 kg) Sean O’Malley from the United States shared his thoughts on the upcoming rematch against the current titleholder, Georgian Merab Dvalishvili, which will take place at UFC 316.

“Beating Merab is more important to me than getting my title back, 100 percent. Even if Merab had lost to Umar, a part of me would still want to settle the score with him. Yes, winning against Merab is fundamentally significant for me,” O’Malley stated at the press conference.

The first encounter between the two fighters occurred in September at UFC 306, where Dvalishvili claimed victory by unanimous decision, taking the belt from O’Malley.

The nickname “The Machine” is more than just a title; it reflects Merab Dvalishvili’s key victories.