UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O'Malley doesn't know where upcoming opponent Merab Dvalishvili is getting his self-belief from.
O'Malley is just days away from his second defense of the 135-pound title. And just over a year on from his crowning at the expense of the previously long-reigning Aljamain Sterling, "Sugar" is tasked with dispatching of "Funk Master's" teammate.
Challenging the champ in the main event of this weekend's Noche UFC pay-per-view is Merab Dvalishvili, who will look to ride his 10-fight winning run all the way to a memorable crowning moment inside the Sphere.
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When it comes to his chances of doing so, the Georgian hasn't been short on confidence. And that's even extended beyond his strengths on the ground, with "The Machine" insisting that takedowns aren't essential to his success on Sept. 14.
That confidence is confusing, according to O'Malley.
During a recent interview for UFC.com, O'Malley looked ahead to his second assignment of 2024, the first of which saw him avenge a 2021 defeat to Marlon Vera in defense of his gold at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.
As he did in that outing and many before, the Montana native is once again expecting for his speed and slick striking to make the difference against an opponent he branded "sloppy" and "slow" on Saturday night.
(This) fight is not going to go the way he thinks it's going to go," O’Malley said. "This fight is going to end brutal. The way he blitzes in, the ways he's sloppy. He is slow. It is not going to end well for him. I do not understand where the confidence comes from. I know he's beat a bunch of guys, but he's never fought anyone like me.
O'Malley will look to make good on that prediction come fight night, where all eyes will not only be on his highly awaited showdown with Dvalishvili but also the unique surroundings in which the event is set to take place.
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