Sean O'Malley: 'Merab at The Sphere is not targeted'
Top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili recently stated that he'll be getting his title shot against champion Sean O'Malley at UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. The only problem is O'Malley has heard nothing from the fight promotion about those plans.
"“Merab at the sphere is not targeted as far as I know. I’ve been pushing for that but UFC hasn’t said anything," O'Malley wrote on social media.
Sean O’Malley responds to reports of him and Merab Dvalishvili fighting at The Sphere
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O'Malley (18-1, 1 NC) captured the 135-pound championship at UFC 292 last August by stopping former titleholder Aljamain Sterling in the first round. He successfully defended the belt at UFC 299 in March in a one-sided fight with Marlon Vera.
Dvalishvili (17-4) is riding a ten-fight winning steak and hasn't lost a fight since April 2018. He defeated former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in his last outing. Dvalishvili's last three wins have been over former champions. Before dispatching of Cejudo, "The Machine" beat former bantamweight champion Petr Yan. Before that, he defeated former featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
UFC 306, also known ask UFC Noche 2, celebrates Mexican Independence Day. The event takes place at The Sphere in Las Vegas in what UFC CEO has said will be "the craziest show anybody's ever seen."