“I think he’s gonna be watching this [ Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov] fight closely and could possibly fight the winner,” said UFC head honcho Dana White when asked about Sean O’Malley during an interview with Jim Rome, a week before UFC 311. However, with the event now behind us, the excitement surrounding the potential return of the former bantamweight champion is steadily growing.

Last week, current 135lbs god-king Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title for the first time against the Dagestani phenom Umar Nurmagomedov, showcasing his impressive ‘Georgian wrestling’ skills. ‘The Machine’ is now eager to stay active in 2025, with plans to fight twice to three times this year to maintain his momentum. As speculation about a rematch with O’Malley swirls, it’s important to recall their first encounter in September 2024 at the historic UFC 306.

However, UFC former two-division champion Henry Cejudo does not believe Sean O’Malley deserves an immediate title shot. Cejudo’s ‘Pound for Pound’ podcast co-host, Kamaru Usman, echoed this sentiment on YouTube. While Usman acknowledged ‘Suga’s’ position in the division, he also suggested a different path forward. “I suggest getting him [Sean] one fight—just one fight—because he’s still right there. Maybe he was hurt the night he fought for the title and lost it. So, I say let’s get him that one fight. If he gets through that fight, then he’s right there. Then, give him another title shot,” ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ explained.

The former 170lbs champ highlighted the significance of the stats from the headlining fight between ‘The Machine’ and Sean O’Malley, particularly focusing on the total strikes landed and the judges’ scorecards. He argued that the fight was not as close as some had perceived. Furthermore, Kamaru Usman has put forward Cody Sandhagen as a deserving contender for the next title shot against Merab Dvalishvili.

Who is next on Merab Dvalishvili’s radar, aside from Sean O’Malley?

At 34, Merab Dvalishvili is just a few years away from retiring from the MMA world. Until that time comes, he intends to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way. With this goal in mind, ‘The Machine’ has mapped out his plans for the remainder of his career. As January 2025 comes to a close, the Georgian is gearing up for his next appearance in the Octagon. The big question is: when and who will he face next? The reigning champ has provided some insight into his future.

In a recent conversation with social media influencer The Schmo, Dvalishvili outlined his plans and mentioned some potential opponents: “I wanted to fight in March. But since I’m fighting in January, I still want to fight in March and April. Whoever will be ready for March, you know, they’ll have a fight in Vegas, and I would love to fight there. If (Sean) O’Malley comes back in March, I will fight. I’m sure Petr Yan will be ready for March; I will give him a rematch. He looks great, and we all know how dangerous he is. I’ll also give O’Malley a rematch and Bautista.”