Merab Dvalishvili admits he delayed UFC 316 rematch to fight best Sean O'Malley

Merab Dvalishvili wanted Sean O'Malley to be fully recovered by the time of their rematch at UFC 316

Stake Ambassador Dvalishvili told MMA Knockout that he could have fought O'Malley in Miami in April, since the UFC offered two dates. Remarkably, Dvalishvili accepted June in New Jersey to give O'Malley the best chance to prepare.

"They [UFC] was willing to give me a fight in April, in Miami," Dvalishvili said. "They give you options, you know? They said, 'You can either fight O'Malley in April, or in June, in New Jersey, and I said New Jersey because this time O'Malley has more time to recover from surgery."

Merab Dvalishvili gives rare insight into mindset of a UFC champion

O'Malley notoriously played the injury card after losing to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, revealing that he fought through a torn labrum. Dvalishvili wants no blips in the rematch.

"Yes [I want to fight the best version of O'Malley]. . . Before surgery he said he would be back in March or April, and I said let's give him more time."

Dvalishvili fights O'Malley in the main event of UFC 316 on June 6. Hopefully this time, both fighters can stay relatively injury-free, even if Dvalishvili is parading around a broken toe during the buildup.

Merab Dvalishvili names dream fight, snubs injury concerns ahead of UFC 316