Sean O’Malley thinks the reason UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is so opposed to fighting #1 ranked Umar Nurmagomedov is because he fears the Dagestani. Dvalishvili, of course, has been adamant in his contempt for Umar, purportedly because he feels the undefeated bantamweight doesn’t deserve a shot at the division gold, and got special treatment from the UFC because he is Khabib’s cousin. However, O’Malley has a very different read on the situation that agrees with Umar’s take.

“Merab and Umar, why is this not being announced? Why aren’t they fighting in November? Why aren’t they fighting in December? I think January is, wasn’t January Islam?… I mean I don’t know… I mean Umar said that he’ll take a fight that’s not Merab if Merab wants to wait and blah blah blah. So I’m here, I’m ready to — well, not ready to go yet. I’ll be ready,” ‘Suga’ said.

This is also why he has thrown his name in the hat for a rematch with the champ despite losing the title to him barely a month ago, the former champ told Ariel Helwani.

“He would prefer me. I think he’s actually terrified of Umar if I’m being honest, not trying to troll, not trying to be kooky. I think Merab’s scared of Umar and would rather fight me. He would probably look at me as an easier fight. So yeah I think he would pick that if he could,” he added.

Umar, of course, has been claiming in recent interviews that Merab is scared to fight him. But most fans have not been very receptive to this idea since Merab, at least up to this point in his career, has been game to fight anyone anywhere. But Umar does pose a serious threat to the reigning undefeated champ, which lends credence to O’Malley’s allegations.

Why Sean O’Malley thinks Umar will be a nightmare for Merab Dvalishvili

Like his more illustrious cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov started his combat sports training under the late great Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. And like Khabib, Umar is a former combat sambo champion, too. That is to say, the undefeated bantamweight has all the legendary grappling skills that are hallmarks of Khabib and his Dagestani cohorts’ game.

And since Merab is first and foremost a wrestler, he will not have as much of a match-up advantage over Umar as he did over the pure striker O’Malley. But what makes Umar so special and so potentially dangerous for Merab, is the Dagestani’s sublime striking skills, especially his kicking game.

Merab on the other hand, doesn’t have much striking. This means that not only does ‘Young Eagle’ pose a threat to the champ on the ground, but will be even more dangerous on the feet. And ‘Suga’ thinks this is why the Georgian is desperately looking to ‘duck’ Umar. What do you think about O’Malley’s claims about Merab Dvalishvili?