Whether it’s a movie or a sports match, fans are all about a good comeback story. So, every time someone takes a loss, they can’t wait to see them rise again. Case in point: former bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley, who lost his title to Merab Dvalishvili. Since then, there’s been one burning question on everyone’s mind—when will ‘Suga’ step back into the octagon? Well, O’Malley finally gave an answer, and it looks like fans will have to wait until 2026 for his return.
On a recent episode of the Suga Sean and Tim Welch Show, O’Malley opened up about his plans for returning to the octagon, revealing that he’ll be tied up for the next few months. He’s said he has a tight schedule that includes attending the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight, hosting an MMA event, and taking care of a bunch of other things he’s committed to. With so much going on, ‘Suga’ explained that he’ll be out of competition for the next three months.
Consequently, he’s planning to use this time not only to fulfill his obligations but also to recover from his injury. After all this, he plans to resume training in early 2025, aiming for a 2026 comeback in the octagon.
He said, “Next three months I’m going to be able to recover and I think I’m gonna be able to start like actually training late December, early January and be back in 2026. I want to fight.”
It’s well known that, unlike athletes in other sports, combat sports athletes often require much more time to recover after a match. O’Malley is no exception; he’s been sidelined for a few months following hip surgery. Indeed, as he plans for a 2026 comeback, it will be interesting to see who his next opponent will be. There are some strong contenders out there, making for some exciting potential matchups.
Is Merab Dvalishvili Rematch Next for Sean O’Malley?
There’s no doubt that ‘Suga’ has outclassed Aljamain Sterling and Marlon Vera, and he certainly deserves a rematch to prove his worth. Interestingly, O’Malley has openly said that he thinks that he won their fight. After hearing these comments multiple times, Merab has stepped up and openly challenged him for a rematch.
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In his words, “I hear O’Malley thinks he won the fight and is looking for a rematch. If he wants it, he can have it. Let’s do it on November 16th at the Garden, and then I’ll still defend the title against whoever the UFC wants me to fight next.”
However, since O’Malley is out with an injury, Merab has the opportunity to face other fighters, like Umar Nurmagomedov. If Merab manages to outclass Khabib’s cousin, there’s no doubt that a rematch with ‘Suga’ will be on the table when he returns.
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