Merab Dvalishvili is getting attention for wearing a jacket he took from Sean O’Malley at a pre-fight press conference for UFC 292, which he is not fighting in, but could potentially be next in line for a title shot.
Merab Dvalishvili might not be participating in UFC 292 this Saturday, but he still managed to become the center of attention at the pre-fight press conference. He appeared wearing a jacket that he had taken from fellow fighter Sean O’Malley back in May. This move sparked hilarity when it became obvious that he was wearing the same red leather jacket that O’Malley had donned during his face-off with Aljamain Sterling following the UFC bantamweight champion’s victory over Henry Cejudo. In that remarkable episode, Dvalishvili had worn O’Malley’s jacket, clambered to the top of the cage, inciting wild applause from the onlookers in New Jersey before a near-skirmish occurred in the octagon.
This time, Dvalishvili unapologetically flaunted the jacket he had procured from O’Malley, the bantamweight contender who turned the spotlight on him when questioned about the Georgian fighter’s fashion choice. O’Malley seemingly defended his reputation, retorting, “The only reason anyone knows Merab’s name is because I handed him my jacket. That’s it.” Amidst all this, Sterling, who is a regular teammate and friend of Dvalishvili, stood up and applauded while happily cheering “let’s go Merab.”
Despite O’Malley’s comments, Dvalishvili has indeed grabbed everyone’s attention and could possibly be the next in line for a title shot before the impending Saturday night. His recent dominant performance against ex-bantamweight champion Petr Yan and his subsequent surge in the 135 pound rankings have amplified this speculation. While it is known that Dvalishvili has held his ground he would never fight Sterling, it seems likely that Sterling might leave the division if he manages to defeat O’Malley at UFC 292. This could potentially place Dvalishvili as the next contender for the championship title.