Dvalishvili sounds off on O'Malley and Welch
I will smash O’Malley inside the cage and then smash his coach outside of the cage .
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) May 8, 2024
Welch responds
I’ve punted footballs bigger than you. https://t.co/zKUe86CD7u
— Tim Welch (@TimwelchMT) May 8, 2024
Are you that mad I said your nose is big brother?
— Tim Welch (@TimwelchMT) May 8, 2024
O'Malley chimes in
Welch addresses video
Sugar’s Accuracy and ability to punch backwards won him that fight, me blabbing my lips had nothing to do with it.
— Tim Welch (@TimwelchMT) May 8, 2024
Sterling not happy with Welch's involvement
Sterling thinks Welch crossed the line
Dust ups are cool for the FIGHTERS BRO. Not the coach. You crossed the line multiple times which is why merab said he will fight you too. Same shit when we almost fought Cejudos team. They were talking shit as if they were fighting. You making yourself fair game. That’s all I’m… https://t.co/jSpiysihh0
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 8, 2024
Sterling blasts O'Malley
You’re a sorry ass champion. Keep bragging about a handicapped fight to give you the best odds to win. You’re not a real man my guy. Don’t try to duck the number 1 contender again to fight number 15 this time or some other pointless lame fight. https://t.co/LysxABxlFj
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 8, 2024
Sterling says quick turnaround impacted performance vs. O'Malley
Congrats to him on that night. If he lost to me after handicapping the fight, I would’ve been pretty sad for him. This is why I was never offered a rematch clause for BEFORE I signed the contract and even after the fight. Facts are facts lil bro. Stay in ya lane. https://t.co/PEI6s4ksnD
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 8, 2024
Aljamain Sterling ripped Sean O'Malley in defense of his teammate Merab Dvalishvili.
O'Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) dethroned Sterling by knockout to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 292. He has since defended his belt in a shutout of Marlon Vera at UFC 299, and is now zeroing in on Sterling's good friend Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) went after O'Malley and his head coach Tim Welch, which sparked a back-and-forth. Perhaps Dvalishvili's anger stems from a video which recently resurfaced of Welch urging Sterling to stay busy just seconds before he walked into O'Malley's counter right which put him down.
Sterling intervened and an old rivalry was rekindled. Scroll below to see their exchanges on "X."
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