It was not only the lighting with the Sean O'Malley team, which points to the atmosphere as a catalyst for his title loss in 2024.
O'Malley lost to the Bol last September, when the couple led the first sporting event in the iconic location in Las Vegas.
Their main event at UFC 306, which marked the second Nouch UFC celebration of the promotion for the Mexican Independence Day, was largely unilaterally in favor of 'The Machine'.
In the aftermath O'Malley revealed that he fought through a torn Labrum, an injury that prevented him from training during his UFC 306 camp.
Many quickly called the reports champion for making 'apologies', and those accusations recently emerged after the O'Malley coach blamed the bulb lighting.
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Sean O'Malley says he fought through injury at UFC 306 because of the bolhype
O'Malley and Dvalishvili will rematch on UFC 316 on 7 June and offer 'Sugar' with an immediate chance to demand his revenge on the Georgian.
And he looked at that opportunity in a recent interview with Kevin Iole, in which he also thought about his setback at UFC 306.
After his coach Tim Welch pointed to the lighting of the Bol as a hindrance on Vechtnond, O'Malley claimed that the hype behind the location played partly in his decision to combat Dvalishvili despite his injury and less than ideal preparations.
“Two things: One, I was still convinced that I was going to beat Merab. I didn't walk into the cage and thought I would lose. And two, it was the atmosphere.
“It was built up this big thing. It has the highest record of presence. I have that record, and that was cool for me,” O'Malley continued. 'Comes up, looking at Conor [McGregor] Break all these records. … Records, for me, was something I pursued a bit, something I gave about.
“That was cool for me to have. Now, looking back, it is still cool, but what the F – K does it get me? Nothing, real. But I mean, that will be in the record books forever … That was a big problem for me.”
Merab Dvalishvili could surpass the regime of Sean O'Malley on UFC 316
UFC 316 takes place in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Two title fights at the top of the Line -up, in which Julianna Pena defends against Kayla Harrison before Dvalishvili and O'Malley extend the hostilities.
And when 'the machine' takes the walk for the main event, he gets the chance to surpass the reign of his opponent.
After a memorable crown in Boston, where he hit old title holder Aljamain Sterling in round two, O'Malley Marlon Vera dominated in their Rematch.
That Miami collision eventually marked the only successful defense in the 'sugar' reign.
After Dvalishhvili O'Malley had unlocked the throne, the Georgian improved his inheritance by blocking the title ambitions of very promoted, undefeated competition Umar Nurmagomedov on UFC 311.
He will now try to add O'Malley for the second time to the profit column of his record to move his count from successful title defenses to two.
