Despite plenty of claims from his likely next opponent Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Suga’ says there’s been no discussion at all about his next title defense happening at the LED-laden Las Vegas Sphere.
All the UFC fighters talking about competing at the Sphere are just hoping they land a booking for the September 16th card.
That’s the word from Sean O’Malley, who has been pushing for a bantamweight title fight in the 16K resolution wraparound interior LED arena. UFC is set to go ‘one and done’ inside the Sphere for Mexican Independence Day, and “Suga” really wants to be the man to headline it.
“I keep pushing for the Sphere, I keep hearing little rumors about who’s fighting at the Sphere, so I’m hoping for the Sphere,” O’Malley said on the latest TimboSugaShow podcast. “But I don’t know if we’re gonna get that one.”
Some news outlets have been reporting O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili at the Sphere like it’s a done deal, but that was due to Merab making the announcement in hopes that the UFC might see the interest and book it.
“That rumor went around, I know Merab went on some UFC India show or some s— and said we were fighting at the Sphere,” O’Malley said. “But he just said that because I had been pushing for it and it got picked up everywhere. But there’s been no talks with me and the UFC about the Sphere, I think they’re waiting on some things to play out. But f— I hope so! I hope so.”
The Sphere has turned into the must-fight destination for half the UFC roster, similar to what UFC 300 was. Everyone wants to compete there, and many fighters are using their sizable social media influence to try and make it happen. Merab Dvalishvili has gone viral several times clowning around outside the Sphere, and recently posted a new video with an O’Malley lookalike at the venue.
New profession – Coach #mexicanstyle pic.twitter.com/068fc7nyXq
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) May 27, 2024
Even Conor McGregor is trying to fight at the Sphere, despite his bout with Michael Chandler being a mere two and a half months before September 16th.
Unfortunately for all these would-be Sphere headliners, the UFC hasn’t announced anything. And at this time, MMAMania.com is hearing that the UFC has the Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili fight penciled in for some time near the end of 2024, not September.
Sorry, Sean!