Sean O’Malley got heated up at UFC 288 due to Merab Dvalishvili’s trolling antics and it led to an exchange between them on social media.
O’Malley was in attendance at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for the event. He took a closer look at the main event between UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. After five rounds of very competitive action, Sterling retained gold in the 135-pound event via split decision.
After the fight, O’Malley got inside the Octagon and had a hard face in a confrontation with Sterling. While the two were exchanging words, Dvlishvili obtained O’Malley’s jacket and put it on. O’Malley was not very happy and security had to step in to avoid a physical confrontation.
Merab wore O’Malley’s jacket 😭 #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/1dH5inwJWz
– UFC (ufc) May 7, 2023
Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvlishvili Hurl Diggs
Dvalishvili hopped on his own Twitter account to mock O’Malley for his post-fight shenanigans.
@tweet First…you give me your jacket and I thank you for the gift. But then you cried for me to take it back and you called me the poncho boy.. Well, if you were the poncho boy… Where’s my share?? 💵🤣@tweet
– Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) May 7, 2023
“SugaSeanMMA first…you gave me your jacket and I thank you for the gift. But then you cried for me to give it back and you called me poncho boy..well if you were poncho boy… where’s my share?? ufc.”
O’Malley replied with the following:
In fact 15 smelled weird as fuck after I took it back
– Sean O’Malley (SugaSeanMMA) May 7, 2023
“What’s your Venmo, I’m going to send you 20. Actually 15 smell weird as fuck after I get them back.”
Sterling told members of the media that he hopes to fight Sean O’Malley in September, and then have another bout in December. Whether or not that time frame is on the cards for UFC officials remains to be seen. The promotion likely won’t want to keep fans waiting for long, as O’Malley hasn’t fought since his October 2022 victory over Peter Yan.
As for Dvalishvili, many believe he would have already had a shot at the UFC Bantamweight Championship had it not been for his close friendship with Sterling. The “Funk Master” said he plans to lift weight soon, so the door may be open for Dvalishvili to compete for UFC gold in the near future.