Dana White reveals that former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley will take part in UFC 311

On By Littum

Former UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-2 MMA) will have his eyes glued to the UFC 311 bantamweight co-headliner between newly minted bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA) and undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA) with good reason.

O’Malley is four months removed from losing his title to Dvalishvili and is looking for another chance to reclaim what was once his. Thus told UFC CEO Dana White The Jim Rome Show on On Wednesday, O’Malley’s upcoming appearance in Inglewood, Calif., came fight night.

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“I think he will follow (Merab vs Umar) closely and possibly fight the winner,” White said.

This is significant news for the bantamweight division should it come true. First, it already has a heated history of how O’Malley’s coaches lured Dvalishvili to listen to the then master’s instructions to throw him off. It didn’t happen.

Dana White reveals that former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley will take part in UFC 311

September 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Sean OíMalley of the United States (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Dvalishvili’s eventual victory sparked a new era in a division that has seen much parity over the years. This can obviously be a good or bad thing as title changes happen pretty quickly in MMA.

O’Malley also favors a rematch, saying recently that he expects the fight to move at a much different pace.

“Ideally, Merab beats Umar and I get the rematch,” O’Malley said. “But if Umar wins, it will be Umar. That’s what I want next is a title fight.”

Although no specific dates were revealed, O’Malley said he wants the rematch sooner rather than later.

Dana White reveals that former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley will take part in UFC 311

September 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Sean OíMalley of the United States (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. / Stephen R. Sylvania-Imagn Images

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“Hopefully in the middle of next year. So the winner of that one. That fight is coming very, very soon.”

While fans might be against it, the UFC wouldn’t be. O’Malley is a draw as he headlined two of the promotion’s biggest events last year in UFC 299 and UFC 306 (Noche UFC).

There’s no telling what he can’t do next as he became the first fighter in the Dana White’s Contender series history to win a title, followed shortly thereafter by former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill.

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