As UFC 318 approaches, one of the most respected voices in MMA — Daniel Cormier (DC) — is weighing in on what makes this version of Sean O’Malley different from the fighter we saw a year ago. With a highly anticipated bantamweight title fight against Merab Dvalishvili on the horizon, DC believes O’Malley has made key adjustments that could be the difference between survival… and domination.

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“Sean is not the same guy we saw early in his UFC career,” Cormier said during a recent segment on DC & RC.
“This is a more mature, more calculated O’Malley — and he knows exactly what he’s up against with Merab.”

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 Evolution of a Champion

O’Malley, who captured the bantamweight title in 2023 by defeating Aljamain Sterling and later defended it against Chito Vera, is now entering a new kind of challenge: a pressure-heavy, relentless grappler in Dvalishvili — someone who, stylistically, could give him trouble.

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But Cormier says the champ has leveled up, both physically and mentally.

“You can see the work in the wrestling department,” DC observed.
“He’s not just training takedown defense anymore — he’s training to punish guys for shooting on him.”

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 Fight IQ and Patience

Cormier also praised O’Malley’s evolving fight IQ, saying it will be critical against someone with Merab’s non-stop motor.

“Merab is going to shoot 15, 20 times. That’s who he is. The difference now is that O’Malley isn’t chasing knockouts — he’s setting traps, conserving energy, and picking moments.”

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Style Clash: Art vs. Grind

While many fans see the fight as a pure striker vs. grappler matchup, DC says it’s deeper than that:

O’Malley brings precision, range control, and elite footwork.

Dvalishvili brings chaos, pressure, and championship-level cardio.

 

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“Sean O’Malley has figured out how to be dangerous every minute of a fight — even going backwards,” Cormier added.
“If he can make Merab hesitate even a little, that’s when the openings come.”

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 UFC 318: No More Excuses

With O’Malley now being tested against the most relentless grappler in the division, and Merab finally getting his long-awaited title shot, UFC 318 has all the ingredients for a legacy-defining moment.

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Cormier’s prediction?

“If Sean keeps the fight in space and punishes the entries, I can see him winning by late stoppage. But if Merab gets on top early and often — it could be a long night.”

One thing is certain: Sean O’Malley isn’t showing up to survive — he’s showing up to prove he’s the best 135er in the world.