Sean O’Malley has his subsequent project with an anticipated struggle in opposition to Merab Dvalishvili, however a brand new No. 1 contender at bantamweight may probably be topped in August.
When UFC returns to Abu Dhabi, one-time interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen continues his pursuit of undisputed gold when he faces undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov within the five-round predominant occasion. The winner is predicted to get the following shot on the title, UFC CEO Dana White introduced after the struggle was revealed for August 3.
After all, that’s assuming the struggle truly takes place, as a result of O’Malley has his doubts.
“I’ll tune in … if it occurs,” O’Malley just lately advised MMA Combating. “We all know Umar likes to tug out if one thing occurs. I’ll be shocked if the struggle occurs.”
Since arriving in UFC, Nurmagomedov has received 5 straight fights but additionally been pressured to drop out of 4 scheduled bouts because of varied circumstances, together with sickness and damage.
The inconsistent sample of appearances has O’Malley satisfied that Nurmagomedov could not even make it to the struggle in August, particularly after the Russian already missed out on a beforehand scheduled struggle in opposition to Sandhagen a 12 months in the past.
Assuming catastrophe doesn’t strike, O’Malley truly favors Sandhagen to beat Nurmagomedov, which may put O’Malley on a collision course with the perennial bantamweight contender from Colorado.
“I’m shocked Cory is such an enormous underdog,” O’Malley stated. “I believe Cory’s some of the expert guys in all the UFC. I wouldn’t be shocked if Cory beat him in any respect.
“Yeah [I’m picking Sandhagen]. I believe Umar is nearly as good as everybody thinks he’s. I simply assume Cory is best.”
Sandhagen, finest generally known as a dynamic striker, may current an fascinating problem to O’Malley, because the champ prides himself on having among the nastiest knockout energy in all the division.
Whereas he nonetheless has a wait-and-see method about that struggle, O’Malley would relish the problem if Sandhagen will get by Nurmagomedov.
“I agree [that would be a good fight],” O’Malley stated.
The truth that O’Malley has Dvalisvhili on his thoughts after which probably both Sandhagen or Nurmagomedov is a far cry from the struggle he wanted dispatching Marlon Vera in March.
Instantly after notching his first title protection at UFC 299, O’Malley turned his consideration to UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria as a dream opponent, calling for the chance to probably declare a title in a second division.
The concept was totally criticized, particularly with Dvalisvhili nonetheless ready within the wings after constructing a 10-fight unbeaten streak within the bantamweight division.
So relatively than pursue Topuria and one other belt, O’Malley fortunately shifted his focus again to Dvalisvhili as a substitute. The identical goes for the long run. O’Malley nonetheless hopes for “champ-champ” standing someday, but when the followers need to see him stick round at bantamweight to defend his belt, then that’s precisely what he’s going to do.
“I’m right here for the individuals,” O’Malley stated. “I believed me shifting as much as struggle Ilia would get individuals excited. Ilia’s, in my view, far more harmful than Merab. So I used to be pumped when individuals had been like, ‘No, struggle Merab, we don’t need to see you struggle Ilia.’ I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, guess. I’ll struggle Merab.’
“I’m right here for the individuals. In the event that they need to see me as double champ, let’s do it. In the event that they need to see me defend, let’s do it. I’m right here for the individuals.”