It seems that the Sean O'Malley camp for Merab Dvalishvili was again far from perfect.
O'Malley's hope for achieving double champion status on 135 pounds was hit by Merab Dvalishvili in Newark last June.
Dvalishvili has dethroned O'Malley for the first time at UFC 306 in September 2024, which ended a long-awaited event on the atmosphere with a dominant five-round display to complete his climb to the Bantamweight Mountaintop.
After a successful defense against Umar Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili faced O'Malley in a rematch on UFC 316. The result second time was even more emphatic because 'The Machine' submitted the American in round two.
In the run -up, O'Malley had spoken strongly about his wrestling training, after he was limited in that department due to a torn Labrum nine months earlier. But now 'Suga' says that his preparation was far from perfect.
Sean O'Malley claims that he broke his toe during UFC 316 Fight Camp
A lot was made of the pre-fighting battle of the native Montana before being confronted with DvalishVili in 2024. While O'Malley was able to reduce Aljamain Sterling while he was injured, he could not repeat the performance before he went to the surgery table weeks after UF 306 almost 12 months ago.
'Suga' suggested that there was a day and day difference between his two camps for Dvalishvili prior to UFC 316.
But during a recent episode of between rounds at the MMA Lab YouTube channel, the ex-camp revealed that he had actually trained in a boot for six weeks due to a broken toe.
“First Merab fight, I walked inside with a torn Labrum,” O'Malley recalled. “The last Merab fight – I never even said anything. It has now been far enough where I don't feel like it's like:” Oh, he apologizes. “
“I was in a boot of six weeks. I kicked Anthony's elbow. The man said that I broke a bone in my left toe and I partially tore the ligaments on the side of it.
“So I was in a boot for the past six weeks,” O'Malley continued. “I would not have trained without a wrestling shoe and tape until I walked in the cage for six weeks.”
UFC legend tips sean o'malley to regain the title in 2026
After having suffered back-to-back losses to Dvalishvili, both of whom came in a fairly one-sided way, O'Malley seems to be far from another chance of the Georgian title. But UFC legend Chael Sonen has courageously predicted that 'Suga' would be back on the throne earlier than most expecting.
During an episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show on the YouTube channel of ESPN MMA, Sonnen O'Malley predicted to become UFC champion again in 2026 after Dvalishhvili leaves the division due to a heavy weight area.
“I'm going to give one to you and you're going to wonder where it comes from,” Sonen said when he discussed who could win a title next year.
“I believe that Sean O'Malley will get his belt back. … I don't know how long Merab can stay on 135 pounds, which certainly has an expiration date, only that weight class alone.”
“I really believe that O'Malley is the star of that division, absent Merab,” Sonen added.