Sean O’Malley is taking a stand against the judges’ decision following his unanimous defeat to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, where he lost his bantamweight title. Despite initially accepting his loss with no excuses, O’Malley has since revisited the fight and is adamant that he deserved to win, claiming victory in Rounds 1, 3, and 5.
In a series of live Tweets and a Twitter Spaces session, O’Malley passionately argued his case. “I had not rewatched the fight before, but now that I have, it’s clear I won the first, third, and fifth rounds,” he stated. “I challenge anyone who thinks I got dominated to rewatch the fight without commentary and tell me I didn’t win. I’m fired up and believe I’m still the champ.”
O’Malley criticized the scoring, particularly for Round 1, which he felt was clearly in his favor despite the judges’ scorecards. He questioned how Merab could have been awarded the round, noting that while Merab secured some takedowns, he did not inflict significant damage. “Round 3 was close, but I still think I won it. Round 5 was also mine. Look at the stats—he didn’t do enough damage,” O’Malley argued.
Despite revealing a hip injury requiring surgery and a potential year-long recovery, O’Malley remains determined and optimistic. He aims to return by mid-2024 and defend his title against top contender Umar Nurmagomedov. “Merab is scared to fight Umar,” O’Malley claimed. “I would fight Umar next. I’m the champ, and I plan to defend my belt against him.”
O’Malley’s response echoes a pattern from his career. His first defeat to Chito Vera in 2020 and a No-Contest against Pedro Munhoz were also met with O’Malley’s rejection of the outcomes. He now extends this defiance to his loss to Dvalishvili, criticizing the new champion’s performance and vowing a comeback.
“I’m telling you, Merab as champ is boring,” O’Malley said. “I tried to make the fight exciting, stuffing takedowns and pressuring him. He was running, holding his stomach, staring at the clock. I won Round 1, 3, and 5. The champ is still here!”
As O’Malley prepares for his return, his resolve and belief in his performance remain unwavering, setting the stage for what could be an electrifying comeback.
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