Sean O’Malley had a cageside view of a future challenger at UFC 298, one method or another.
O’Malley makes the very first defense of his UFC bantamweight title on March 9 in a rematch versus Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299, and if triumphant, he might discover himself battling among the 2 stars from Saturday’s card. Ahead of UFC 298, O’Malley proposed a champ vs. champ match versus Ilia Topuria if the Spaniard beat Alexander Volkanovski, which he made with a spectacular second-round knockout to catch the UFC featherweight strap. Fellow bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili likewise controlled Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 to extend a division-best 10-fight win streak, then called out O’Malley for a chance at the 135-pound belt.
O’Malley responded to the 2 efficiencies on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour.
“Volk coming off that nasty KO not too long back, Ilia’s self-confidence that high, how hazardous he is– I sensed that Ilia was going to win,” O’Malley stated on The MMA Hour
“He knocked out the featherweight GOAT in Round 2. I knocked out [Aljamain Sterling]bantamweight GOAT, in Round 2. I’ve type of pressed that battle a bit. I’ve been getting a great deal of hate for it, a little pushback stating that I’m ducking Merab. I’m like, Merab simply hardly– not hardly, he whooped Henry, however Henry resembles 42 or something. He looked awful. I would’ve knocked Henry out 4 times that battle. And after that Ilia heads out there and knocks out Volk, the best featherweight of all-time in Round 2 in a gorgeous efficiency, and I’m calling him out, and I’m getting s *** from the MMA fans, stating, ‘Oh, you’re ducking Merab.’
“I’m attempting to call out a battle that I feel is amazing, that’s like holy s ***. I got a lot of pushback on it. I do not understand if individuals in fact desire me to combat Merab as much as they simply dislike the self-confidence that I have that I would head out there and knock out Ilia. I chose, I’ve stated what I required to state, I’ve sent my message to Ilia. If Merab is next, Merab is next. I can get Ilia whenever, whenever the time comes. I have not spoken to the UFC due to the fact that certainly there’s absolutely nothing to discuss. I’ve got Chito Vera, March 9. That’s what’s next. That’s what I require to concentrate on.”
While O’Malley, 29, and his coach Tim Welch have actually both campaigned for a prospective superfight in between the bantamweight champ and Topuria, that interest has actually so far been unrequited. Topuria tossed cold water over the concept ahead of UFC 298, informing MMA Fighting that O’Malley still has “a lot to show” at 135 pounds and anticipating that Vera will beat O’Malley once again at UFC 299 after formerly winning through first-round knockout in 2020.
In addition, UFC CEO Dana White blessed Dvalishvili as the next No.