Michael Bisping claims Merab Dvalishvili's game plan against Sean O'Malley was rigged.
Dvalishvili plans to challenge bantamweight champion O'Malley later this year but has not yet signed a contract. O'Malley recently said on “The Timbo Sugar Show” podcast that the bout would likely take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September or at T-Mobile Arena in December.
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) is excited to finally face O'Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), who claimed the title in August 2023 after knocking out Dvalishvili's teammate Aljamain Sterling.
“This is my dream fight and it's the perfect time to fight him,” Dvalishvili said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “What's going to happen is I'm going to show everybody my striking. Yeah, I'm wrestling, but now I want to prove my striking. And I want to go and punch him in the face, because he thinks I'm going to wrestle him. No, I'm going to punch.”
“Unbelievable,” co-host Anthony Smith responded, with Bisping emphatically agreeing: “Thanks! I was going to tell you you're a liar, Merab.”
Dvalishvili now appears to have backtracked, acknowledging where his strengths lie: In his most recent bout at UFC 298 in February, Dvalishvili grappled Olympic gold medalist wrestler Henry Cejudo and knocked him down five times.
He also had great respect for O'Malley as an opponent.
“Technically, yes,” Dvalishvili acknowledged. “Stylistically, I have to beat him in wrestling, cardio, closing the distance, clinching… I have to respect his striking, but I believe in myself. I respect all my opponents, but especially him. He's a champion, he has confidence, he has reach, he has experience, he has knockout power, he has good technique and a good coach, but I have to beat his coach too.”
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