Henry Cejudo has expressed his concerns about Sean O’Malley’s preparation for their upcoming rematch at UFC 316, where O’Malley has the chance to reclaim his bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili. This highly anticipated event will take place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
O’Malley, who previously lost his title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, entered that first fight with a hip injury that ultimately required surgery. As he gears up for the rematch, O’Malley has implemented various lifestyle changes. However, Cejudo has heard troubling reports regarding O’Malley’s training camp that lead him to believe O’Malley may not be adequately prepared.
Cejudo expressed skepticism about O’Malley’s training decisions on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, emphasizing that O’Malley appears to be focusing too much on his jiu-jitsu while neglecting his stand-up game and getting back to his feet. Cejudo criticized O’Malley for not investing properly in his training by bringing in diverse sparring partners and resources, suggesting that this conservative approach may be detrimental to his performance.
Notably, Dvalishvili convincingly won their first encounter, dominating O’Malley with six takedowns and controlling the fight for over ten minutes. As a result, he is expected to be a strong favorite going into the rematch.
This fight presents a significant opportunity for O’Malley to bounce back, and his adjustments could prove crucial. If he can address the weaknesses noted by Cejudo, he may just surprise his critics and reclaim the title. The tension surrounding their rematch highlights the unpredictable nature of the sport and could lead to an exciting showdown for fans.