It wasn’t just the lighting that has Sean O’Malley’s team pointing to the Sphere as a catalyst for his title loss in 2024.
Their main event at UFC 306, which marked the promotion’s second Noche UFC celebration for Mexican Independence Day, was largely one-sided in favor of ‘The Machine’.
In the aftermath, O’Malley revealed that he fought through a torn labrum, an injury that had prevented him from training grappling during his UFC 306 camp.
Many were quick to call out the defeated champion for making ‘excuses’, and those allegations recently resurfaced after O’Malley’s coach blamed the Sphere lighting.
And he previewed that opportunity in a recent interview with Kevin Iole, during which he also reflected on his setback at UFC 306.
Sean O’Malley’s team has indicated that the Sphere was a contributing factor in his 2024 title loss, and it wasn’t just the lighting.
Last September, O’Malley lost to Dvalishvili at the Sphere, where the two played the main event for the first time at the renowned Las Vegas venue.
Following the bout, O’Malley disclosed that he battled through a torn labrum, which had kept him from grappling training during his UFC 306 camp.
Many were quick to criticize the lost champion for making “excuses,” and after O’Malley’s coach blamed the Sphere lighting, those accusations have recently come up again.
Sean O’Malley claims that because of the Sphere hype, he overcame his injury at UFC 306.
“Sugar” will have the chance to get even with the Georgian right away when O’Malley and Dvalishvili rematch on June 7 at UFC 316.
Additionally, he hinted at that possibility in a recent interview with Kevin Iole, in which he also discussed his disappointment at UFC 306.
O’Malley stated that the excitement surrounding the Sphere contributed to his decision to fight Dvalishvili in spite of his injury and inadequate preparations, after his coach Tim Welch cited the lighting at the Sphere as a drawback on fight night.
“First, I still had faith that I would defeat Merab. I didn’t enter the cage with the expectation that I would lose. The Sphere was the second.
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“This large thing accumulated.”. It has the best attendance record. That was cool to me, and I own that record,” O’Malley added. “Watching Conor [McGregor] smash all these records is coming up.”. To me, records were something I was interested in and sort of chasing.
That was a cool possession of mine. I think it’s still cool now, but what the f–k does it get me? Nothing at all. But that was a huge deal to me, and it will be in the record books forever. “.”.
Merab Dvalishvili might end Sean O’Malley’s dominance at UFC 316.
Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center is the venue for UFC 316. Prior to Dvalishvili and O’Malley resuming their feud, Julianna Pena will defend against Kayla Harrison in the first of two title fights on the schedule.
And he will have a chance to outlast his opponent’s reign when “The Machine” walks for the main event.
In their rematch, O’Malley dominated Marlon Vera following a memorable victory in Boston, where he defeated longtime champion Aljamain Sterling in round two.
The only successful defense during “Sugar’s” reign was that Miami match.
Once Dvalishvili deposed O’Malley, the Georgian further cemented his legacy at UFC 311 by thwarting the title aspirations of highly regarded, unbeaten competitor Umar Nurmagomedov.
He will now try to move his record of successful title defenses to two by adding O’Malley to his win column for the second time.
