Last year at UFC 306, under the bright lights of The Sphere, Sean O’Malley lost the bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili in a decisive one-sided fight. But what’s done is done. Now, O’Malley is focused on leaving no stone unturned in his preparation—even if that means turning to some of the biggest names in MMA for guidance. As the UFC prepares for its 11th event in Newark, the excitement among fight fans is palpable.
All eyes are back on Sean O’Malley. Once celebrated as the “next Conor McGregor,” ‘Suga’s fall at The Sphere was a difficult setback. Yet with redemption firmly in his sights, the stakes have never been higher. This isn’t just any title fight. For O’Malley, it’s deeply personal—a chance to settle the score, silence his critics, and prove he’s far from finished. Is this a comeback? It certainly feels like one. The American has been grinding hard in preparation for UFC 316.
Not long ago, he enlisted former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to fine-tune his striking. And now, in a major boost to his camp, he’s added another legend to his corner. Joining him at the Red Hawk Academy in Peoria, AZ, is none other than flyweight GOAT Demetrious Johnson. His longtime coach and close friend Tim Welch, who shared on Instagram, confirmed the news:
“awesome havingf mighty” in the new academy.
And really, what’s better than having someone as versatile and experienced as Demetrious Johnson helping shape your game, especially with a title fight looming? Meanwhile, on the other side of the Octagon, Merab Dvalishvili remains a wrecking machine. Riding a 12-fight win streak, ‘The Machine’ most recently handed Umar Nurmagomedov his first professional loss, snapping an 18-fight unbeaten run earlier this year.
Still, with a stacked camp behind him and a fire reignited, Sean O’Malley appears to be the fan favorite heading into UFC 316. Let’s take a look at what the fans are saying…
Fans rally behind Sean O’Malley’s ‘comeback’ as Demetrious Johnson joins camp
Once regarded as a decorated champion and widely seen as the face of the UFC by MMA pundits, Sean O’Malley’s star power dimmed following a devastating defeat to Merab Dvalishvili. That lone loss at UFC 306 not only stripped him of his bantamweight crown—it pushed him to the edge, as the wave of fan criticism that followed was relentless. The backlash forced ‘Suga’ to disconnect from the noise. In search of redemption, he chose to isolate himself and train behind closed doors, silently preparing for his shot at revenge.
While the exact cause of Sean O’Malley’s downfall remains up for debate, one thing is clear—this camp is different. With the legendary Demetrious Johnson now joining the team, the momentum has dramatically shifted. Having the flyweight GOAT in his corner has reignited fan excitement. One fan boldly declared, “It’s so over for Merab,” while another hyped up the O’Malley-Welch-Johnson trifecta, chiming in, “First Izzy, now the GOAT also there, we getting the belt back boys.”
Naturally, the hype heading into UFC 316 has hit new heights. And why wouldn’t it? Should Demetrious Johnson make an appearance, it would mark a symbolic return to the UFC spotlight for one of its most decorated icons. ‘DJ’ left the UFC in 2018 after high-profile contract disagreements with Dana White and others, leading to his trade to ONE Championship in a groundbreaking deal for Ben Askren. Even after saying farewell to MMA under the ONE banner last year, Johnson’s legacy remained intact as he transitioned to a focused career in grappling.
Now, with fans expecting to see him at the Prudential Center on June 7 for UFC 316, the excitement is palpable. As one fan put it, “So dope! Some legends coming into the gym! #andnew June 7th,” while another simply summed it up: “Just a bunch of the dudes of all time.” As for Merab Dvalishvili, he remains a force to be reckoned with. Though often criticized for not finishing fights, the Georgian standout has silenced many detractors by breaking records, recently surpassing Georges St-Pierre for the most takedowns in UFC history. Still, despite his grinding dominance, many believe that the tide is now turning.
With Demetrious Johnson helping to sharpen Sean O’Malley’s all-around arsenal, confidence in the “Suga Show” is growing fast. One supporter tweeted, “T minus 2 weeks till the belt is around Suga,” while another pleaded with Johnson directly: “@mighty get my boy Suga ready for Merab.” Interestingly, ‘Mighty Mouse’ isn’t entirely new to the Merab Dvalishvili equation. He was once part of Team Khabib when Umar Nurmagomedov was preparing to face Dvalishvili. But even with the tactical minds of both Khabib Nurmagomedov and ‘DJ’ in his corner, Umar suffered a surprising loss to the reigning bantamweight champ.
Now, fans sense a storm brewing for ‘The Machine’. One declared, “Merab is so cooked,” while another echoed the vibe: “@mightymouse in the house I smell cheese and a comeback.” With UFC 316 just weeks away, the hype is reaching a fever pitch. The stakes? Nothing less than redemption and legacy. So, what’s your take on the looming showdown? Can Sean O’Malley rise from the ashes and reclaim his glory? Drop your thoughts below!
The post “Merab Is Cooked”- Sean O’Malley Gets Major Boost Days Before UFC 316 as Demetrious Johnson Steps In appeared first on EssentiallySports.