Merab Dvalishvili made two things clear at UFC 298 for the fans: Henry Cejudo will not be fighting anymore, and his next target is the UFC bantamweight belt. After defeating “Triple C,” Merab sets the record and calls out current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
On the other side, Cejudo will be making his UFC retirement official, but Merab will be looking to progress in his MMA career. It is now Dvalishvili’s time to put his hand on the title after giving the biggest upset to the MMA world on the night of February 17th.
Merab Dvalishvili matches Aljamain Sterling’s record
After securing his 9th consecutive win, Merab Dvalishvili’s win streak of nine matches the record held by his best friend and former UFC champion Aljamain Sterling. Dvalishvili is now tied with nine fight wins, and one more victory would cement his name in the UFC record books for the bantamweight division.
After nearly a year away from training, Dvalishvili returned to the octagon in 11 months, showcasing once again why he has the potential to become the new champion. At UFC 298, Merab dominated former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, leaving him with no chance to apply pressure.
The unanimous decision, scored 29-28, favored the Georgian fighter. Many highlights were showcased during this 3-round fight, where the 33-year-old Merab seemed to be playing around with the former dual champion. In the 61 kg weight category, a new record-breaking star is set to shine in the spotlight.
Merab Dvalishvili is now tied for the longest win streak in UFC bantamweight history with his 9th consecutive win!@MerabDvalishvil | #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/kk5lckrAss
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
Merab Dvalishvili challenges Sean O’Malley
After securing victory over Henry Cejudo, Merab Dvalishvili enjoyed his time in the post-fight interview, where he also informed who will be his next target in the division. As per MMA fighting coverage, Merab is interested in a championship fight next. After the fight was over, he immediately wanted the match against bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
Merab Dvalishvili calls out champion Sean O'Malley, who's sitting cageside 👀 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/XEROgTBAxe
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 18, 2024
While pointing out how his hard work paid off to put him in this demanding position, Dvalishvili said, “All my life, I don’t get anything easy. I work for it. Hard work always pays off. I’m not even breathing heavily. Every day, I’m fighting in the gym. I wanted more rounds. Three rounds is nothing for me. Where is the champion? Bring him here right now!”
After expressing his choice of opponent, Sean O’Malley, who was seated in the front row, Merab Dvalishvili stated, “I’m ready for 10 rounds. Whoever is the champion, I’m going to face him next. I’ve been calling out Sean O’Malley since 2018. My only goal is the title now.”
Suga Sean is set to compete in a rematch against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC 299 in Montana, USA. If O’Malley secures victory against Chito, it is anticipated that the next bantamweight championship bout will feature Dvalishvili against Sean.
What are your predictions of Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvali getting the championship bout official after the night of March 10?
