Sean O’Malley Next Fight: ‘Suga’ Plans Bantamweight Rebuild After Back-To-Back Merab Dvalishvili Defeats 1m2p2g

After losing two successive UFC Bantamweight Title fights to Merab Dvalishvili, the Sean O’Malley next fight is yet to be confirmed.

‘Suga’ will need to rebuild and get back to winning ways now in the bantamweight division, as we outline his options moving forward in the UFC. This includes when to expect O’Malley’s next fight to be and who it may be against.

Sean O’Malley Next Fight: Former UFC Bantamweight King Plans Bantamweight Rebuild 6x2q12

Sean O’Malley is without question one of the biggest stars in the UFC as of today. He is a former UFC champion and one of the icons of the sport now, not to mentioned being one of the most popular and most followed UFC fighters on the entire roster.

Sean O’Malley’s record currently sits at 18-3 (1NC), which consists of 12 knockout victories, one submission and five wins via decision. Inside the UFC, the 30-year-old has had 13 fights, winning nine of them.

UFC fans last saw ‘Suga’ in action at UFC 316 in June 2025. In what was his second UFC Bantamweight Title fight against Merab Dvalishvili, O’Malley lost via submission, following up from losing his 135-pound belt the fight before against the same man at UFC 306.

Now, the former UFC bantamweight king aims to get back in the win column and get back to the summit of the 135-pound division once again. It may be a long journey back to the top, especially whilst Dvalishvili remains the champion, but he is more than capable of getting back to the top.

In regards to Sean O’Malley’s next fight, the American MMA superstar will need a rebuild after losing back-to-back fights. He is still ranked at #1 at bantamweight, which could mean a fight with a lower contender next.

‘Suga’ has proved he is one of the best bantamweights in the world on his day, and is more than capable of beating any 135-pound fighter on the planet. He is certainly capable of becoming a two-time UFC champion in the future, but first must get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

Could Sean O’Malley’s Next Fight Be For A UFC Title At Bantamweight Or Featherweight? 1v5r47

In regards to who Sean O’Malley’s next fight will actually be against, there are a few names that make total sense for the former UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Following his back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili, it’s back to the drawing board for ‘Suga’. That could mean bouts with the likes of Umar Nurmagomedov or Peter Yan next, both of whom are ranked just below O’Malley at 135-pounds.

With Dvalishvili having wiped out the entire bantamweight division, he could well move up to fight the 145-pound champion. Merab could well be in the opposite corner for Alexander Volkanovski’s next fight, which could mean the bantamweight belt becomes vacant.

If it does, a showdown between O’Malley and Nurmagomedov makes total sense. Another option that has been discussed by UFC President Dana White is a move up to 145-pound. O’Malley boasts quite a big frame as well as being extremely tall, meaning he could move up in weight in the not so distant future.

The most important thing for the Sean O’Malley next fight is to get back to winning ways. Period. He must put the two back-to-back defeats to Dvalishvili behind him and get back in the win column before the end of the year or early in 2026.

At just 30-yeears-old, ‘Suga’ still has plenty of time to improve. Going forward in a few years time, if he makes the necessary adjustments, he could become one of the best pound-for-pound UFC fighters in the world. This could take time, but isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

Whatever happens regarding the Sean O’Malley next fight, it is sure to be big.