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Sean O'Malley questions Merab Dvalishvili's confidence after Petr Yan loss

2026-08-26 · Sean O'Malley · Player Focus

Sean O'Malley questions whether Merab Dvalishvili can recover mentally from his UFC 323 loss to Petr Yan and recent defeat to Henry Cejudo. The former UFC bantamweight champion voiced concerns about Dvalishvili's confidence ahead of their UFC 333 title rematch in Abu Dhabi. O'Malley made the comments during an exclusive interview at Red Hawk Academy, his coach Tim Welch's gym in Phoenix.

What did Sean O'Malley say about Merab Dvalishvili's mindset?

O'Malley told CBS Sports he wants to know where Dvalishvili's confidence stands after getting knocked out by Yan and then losing via quick submission to Cejudo. He acknowledged Dvalishvili's skill but stressed the mental side of fighting. O'Malley noted that while Yan looked dominant in their December bout, the weight-cut process for four title fights in a year is extreme and likely took a toll.

How did Petr Yan defeat Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323?

Petr Yan won via unanimous decision at UFC 323 in December 2023, ending Dvalishvili's bid for a fourth straight title defense. Yan controlled the fight with precise striking and avoided the grappling exchanges where Dvalishvili usually thrives. The result shocked many who expected Dvalishvili to retain his belt after dominating their first meeting.

What is Sean O'Malley's history with Petr Yan?

Sean O'Malley defeated Petr Yan by split decision at UFC 280 in October 2022 in Abu Dhabi. That win earned him a title shot against Aljamain Sterling, which he won to claim the bantamweight belt. O'Malley defended the title once before losing it to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 292 in August 2023.

Who is Kris Moutinho and what is his BKFC status?

Kris Moutinho, a former UFC bantamweight who lost to Sean O'Malley at UFC 264 in July 2021, has signed with BKFC. Moutinho endured a record-setting striking output from O'Malley in that fight before being released after a loss to Guido Cannetti. He is set to debut at BKFC Fight Night on August 21 2024 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville Connecticut.

What did Sean O'Malley say about Ian Machado Garry?

Sean O'Malley reacted to Ian Machado Garry's comments about Europeans waking up to watch him at UFC 292 and his sponsorship with PETA. O'Malley jokingly questioned Garry's claim and disagreed with his view that women should run the world, saying he would 'f*cking crush' if given the chance.

  • Sean O'Malley defeated Petr Yan via split decision at UFC 280 in October 2022
  • Merab Dvalishvili lost to Petr Yan at UFC 323 in December 2023
  • Kris Moutinho makes BKFC debut August 21 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena
  • Sean O'Malley criticized Ian Machado Garry's UFC 292 comments in a 2024 YouTube reaction

More Sean O'Malley news →