Sean O`Malley reflects on his disappointing loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, wishing he had approached certain moments differently.
At UFC 316, O`Malley defended his UFC Bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili. In the third round, Dvalishvili defeated O`Malley by submission (choke), ending O`Malley`s reign as champion.
Despite making significant lifestyle changes to prepare for the fight against the Georgian fighter, O`Malley came up short in the main event.
O`Malley has expressed some regrets regarding the fight`s progression and believes he understands the reasons behind his loss in New Jersey.
O`Malley Regrets Tapping Out Early Against Merab Dvalishvili
O`Malley pinpointed a specific decision as a key factor in his loss to Dvalishvili.
He admits that if he had realized only 18 seconds remained in the third round, he would have attempted to endure Dvalishvili`s chokehold for longer before tapping.
Sean O`Malley Relieved Not to Need Surgery After UFC 316 Loss
In a related statement, O`Malley mentioned that the most positive aspect of the defeat was avoiding the need for surgery afterwards.
This situation contrasts with a previous setback in his career where a loss was followed by surgery, resulting in a difficult period for “Suga.”
