Aljamain Sterling, like many others, is surprised by Sean O’Malley`s upcoming title opportunity.
The UFC has officially announced that Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight title against O’Malley in the main event of UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark, N.J. This rematch comes despite Dvalishvili`s clear victory over O’Malley in their previous fight, leading to a somewhat unenthusiastic response from fans, especially since O’Malley hasn`t competed since that loss to Dvalishvili last September.
O’Malley has been recovering from hip surgery, while Dvalishvili, a close friend and teammate of Sterling, successfully defended his title against the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January. Sterling shared his thoughts on social media regarding O’Malley being granted an immediate rematch.
“Honestly, the UFC will prioritize business and the brand,” Sterling tweeted. “Would I have wanted an immediate rematch given the circumstances of our first fight? Definitely. However, I understand the business side better than most, and O’Malley is an exciting fighter who has defeated several top 5 contenders. So, I believe he deserves this opportunity considering the ranked opponents he has beaten.”
While initially sounding like support for O’Malley, Sterling’s subsequent tweets clarified his sarcasm about O’Malley’s achievements in the octagon.
Sterling and O’Malley have a history themselves, with O’Malley defeating Sterling by second-round TKO at UFC 292 to win the bantamweight championship. Sterling has since moved to the featherweight division, where he has a record of 1-1, with a victory over Calvin Kattar and a loss to Movsar Evloev.
When June 7 arrives, Sterling is expected to be in Dvalishvili’s corner, anticipating another victory for “The Machine.” He lightheartedly reassured fans not to worry about O’Malley, suggesting that even with another defeat to Dvalishvili, a trilogy fight could be offered.
“You offer him a trilogy,” Sterling joked.
