UFC 316: Dana White post-fight interview
UFC CEO Dana White spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at the UFC 316 post-fight press conference and talked the top storylines from Saturday’s event.
NEWARK, N.J. – If Merab Dvalishvili isn’t already the greatest 135-pounder in UFC history, he very soon could be.
That’s what Dana White thinks after he watched Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) thoroughly dominate former champion Sean O’Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) to win their bantamweight title rematch Saturday in the UFC 316 main event.
Dvalishvili dominated O’Malley in their first meeting in 2024, too, but toyed with him, in part, and won a decision to take the belt. The rematch looked like a mismatch when Dvalishvili took O’Malley down with ease on repeat and eventually tapped him out in the third round.
“I agree (he looks like one of the best bantamweights of all time),” UFC CEO White said at a post-fight news conference at Prudential Center. “We’ve been talking about (what it will take to beat him). I don’t know.
“And Sean O’Malley came in 100 percent ready, mentally, physically, in every way you could be ready for this fight, and Merab finished him. He’s definitely there (in the conversation as the best bantamweight of all time).”
As for what could be next for Dvalishvili, White said he appreciates the fighter’s enthusiastic quest to have four title defenses in one calendar years.
Dvalishvili, after winning the title at UFC 306 this past September, outworked Umar Nurmagomedov in his first defense in January. Cory Sandhagen, White said, is next in line for a shot at the belt, but also thinks the champ might wind up in another rematch eventually.
“He will keep racking (wins) up, I’m sure,” White said. “The Umar rematch is interesting and it makes your legacy even better to run through everybody twice.”
