UFC legend Daniel Cormier believes Sean O’Malley is facing a tough road back to the bantamweight title after his second-straight loss to champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. O’Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) dropped both fights to Dvalishvili, with the most recent one ending in submission.
Cormier thinks O’Malley’s path back to title contention is fraught with challenges, as he’ll need to overcome a tough field of contenders if he wants to regain a shot at the belt. “It doesn’t get easier for ‘The Suga Show,'” Cormier said. “Until there’s a changeover, it’ll be hard for Sean O’Malley to work his way back into a title opportunity.”
O’Malley’s next steps are uncertain, but Cormier believes Dvalishvili has solidified his position as the top bantamweight contender. The champion’s dominant performance over O’Malley was particularly impressive, with Cormier stating that Dvalishvili’s victory showed he is “the cream of the crop” at 135 pounds.
Source: https://mmajunkie-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/06/09/ufc-316-daniel-cormier-opinion-sean-omalley-future-concerns-after-dvalishvili-rematch-loss/84112606007