Merab Dvalishvili, the No. 1 contender at 135 pounds, has expressed his intention to challenge bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley on Sept. 14, the date of UFC 306, which coincides with Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Merab Dvalishvili is eyeing a big Mexican Independence Day weekend. He’s got some grand plans.
He’s the top contender at 135 pounds and he’s got his sights set on bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. His latest video skit makes his intentions crystal clear. It’s a direct challenge to “Suga.”
Take a look at the short clip. It’s right below.
In this skit, Dvalishvili is seen walking down a path. But it’s not just any path. It’s lined with gravestones. Each one symbolic of his impressive 10-fight win streak. He’s on a roll, no doubt.
Former bantamweight champs Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo are in the spotlight. They’re Dvalishvili’s two most recent victories.
Dvalishvili then approaches some buddies. They’re digging a fresh grave. He tells them to stop. He’s got a different plan. They’re going to need a bigger grave. Why? To accommodate the tall O’Malley. And he doesn’t miss the chance to take a dig at the considerably shorter Cejudo.
The skit wraps up with Dvalishvili calling out O’Malley. He wants him to defend his title against him on Sept. 14. That’s the date of UFC 306. It’s happening at Sphere in Las Vegas.
His callout coincides with Mexican Independence Day. It falls on Sept. 16 this year. Interestingly, Dvalishvili was seen waving a Mexican flag before his fight with Cejudo. Cejudo, by the way, is the son of Mexican immigrants.
As for O’Malley’s next fight, it’s not official yet. But the champ has hinted at something. He expects to fight Dvalishvili next.