The “Suga” show is back as Sean O’Malley is poised to step into the Octagon for his second UFC bantamweight title defense. So, when is it, and who will he square off against at The Sphere?
Suga ascended the throne in August 2023 by ending Aljamain Sterling’s run as the 135-pound champion. He knocked out “The Funkmaster” at UFC 292. Then, seven months after the belt was wrapped around his waist, O’Malley notched his first defense by dismantling Marlon Vera over five rounds, avenging his 2020 defeat to “Chito” by winning every frame of their five-round contest.
What’s next for the striking savant? O’Malley is putting his strap on the line against the surging No. 1-ranked contender, Merab Dvalishvili. They’ll duel as the headlining act of UFC 306 on September 14, 2024. Their bantamweight affair will top the Mexican Independence Day event at The Sphere, an immersive state-of-the-art arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
UFC CEO Dana White has long hyped the show as a one-in-a-lifetime experience for fight fans. The promotion has never put on an event in an arena quite like The Sphere, and O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili will serve as the night’s climax.
In the co-main slot, women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and the division’s former ruler, Valentina Shevchenko, will clash in a trilogy bout to determine the 125-pound queen. Before that, the highly anticipated featured match-up between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes will play out in the featherweight class.
Let’s take a brief look at the force O’Malley is encountering on Saturday night. Appropriately nicknamed “The Machine,” Dvalishvili is known for his world-class cardio and relentless grappling pressure. In what is truly a classic striker vs. grappler pairing, Dvalishvili will look to overwhelm and control Suga with his wrestling, while the latter attempts to keep the match on its feet and land one of his patented strikes.
Dvalishvili is riding the momentum of a 10-fight win streak, which includes three straight victories over former world champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, and Jose Aldo. He boasts a professional record of 17-4 with three wins via KO/TKO and one by submission. On the other end, Suga is unbeaten in his last seven outings and his mixed martial arts record sits at 18-1 (and one no-contest) with 12 victories coming by knockout.
If Suga passes Dvalishvili’s test, he’ll earn his second title defense and tie the bantamweight record for consecutive undisputed championship defenses with Dominick Cruz, TJ Dillashaw, and Sterling. And if he manages to take out The Machine, O’Malley will begin entering talks about possibly being the greatest 135-pounder the sport has ever seen.