Henry Cejudo has made bold claims about Sean O’Malley’s training camp ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
Speaking on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with co-host Kamaru Usman, Cejudo didn’t mince words when discussing what he’s allegedly heard about O’Malley’s preparation.
“I think the biggest thing with O’Malley is, did he formulate his camp correctly?” Cejudo said. “There’s a lot of birdies out there. I’m going to say it here on Pound 4 Pound: He’s just working jiu-jitsu. He’s not working his get-ups, his stand-ups. He’s not investing in his camp, he’s not bringing in guys for money. In Arizona, they have big mouths.”
Cejudo went on to suggest that O’Malley may be unwilling to spend money on proper training partners and resources.
“It’s true, it’s 100-percent true,” Cejudo continued. “It [money] shouldn’t be [a concern], but to him, he just wants to keep everything. I don’t know, maybe he’s cheap. He just wants to keep everything in house. When you do that, sh*t gets out there. That’s the only reason why I know some of these things. People, listen to me: Bet the house, Merab Dvalishvili via damn decision, 50-45.”
The upcoming bout represents O’Malley’s opportunity to reclaim the bantamweight championship he lost to Dvalishvili by decision last September. Despite the comprehensive defeat in their first encounter, O’Malley did have moments of success, winning at least a round or two according to most observers. Notably, in the final round, O’Malley appeared to hurt Dvalishvili with a well-placed body kick.
While O’Malley faces significant challenges in this rematch, his exceptional striking accuracy and formidable punching power keep him a dangerous opponent. These attributes could potentially turn the tide in his favor at UFC 316, despite Cejudo’s confident prediction for another Dvalishvili victory.
As fight night approaches, fans are left wondering whether O’Malley’s preparation strategy will prove sufficient to overcome Dvalishvili’s well-rounded skill set and reclaim the bantamweight throne.
