Sean O’Malley had a cageside view of a future opponent at UFC 298, a technique or one other.
O’Malley makes the primary protection of his UFC bantamweight title on March 9 in a rematch towards Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 299, and if victorious, he may discover himself combating one of many two stars from Saturday’s card. Forward of UFC 298, O’Malley proposed a champion vs. champion match towards Ilia Topuria if the Spaniard defeated Alexander Volkanovski, which he did with a shocking second-round knockout to seize the UFC featherweight strap. Fellow bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili additionally dominated Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 to increase a division-best 10-fight win streak, then known as out O’Malley for a shot on the 135-pound belt.
O’Malley reacted to the 2 performances on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour.
“Volk coming off that nasty KO not too way back, Ilia’s confidence that top, how harmful he’s — I had a sense that Ilia was going to win,” O’Malley stated on The MMA Hour.
“He knocked out the featherweight GOAT in Spherical 2. I knocked out [Aljamain Sterling], bantamweight GOAT, in Spherical 2. I’ve form of pushed that battle slightly bit. I’ve been getting numerous hate for it, slightly pushback saying that I’m ducking Merab. I’m like, Merab simply barely — not barely, he whooped Henry, however Henry is like 42 or one thing. He regarded horrible. I’d’ve knocked Henry out 4 occasions that battle. After which Ilia goes on the market and knocks out Volk, the best featherweight of all-time in Spherical 2 in a stupendous efficiency, and I’m calling him out, and I’m getting s*** from the MMA followers, saying, ‘Oh, you’re ducking Merab.’
“I’m attempting to name out a battle that I really feel is thrilling, that’s like holy s***. However I acquired numerous pushback on it. I don’t know if folks really need me to battle Merab as a lot as they only hate the arrogance that I’ve that I’d go on the market and knock out Ilia. However I made a decision, I’ve stated what I wanted to say, I’ve despatched my message to Ilia. If Merab is subsequent, Merab is subsequent. I can get Ilia at any time when, at any time when the time comes. I haven’t talked to the UFC as a result of clearly there’s nothing to speak about. I’ve acquired Chito Vera, March 9. That’s what’s subsequent. That’s what I have to give attention to.”
Whereas O’Malley, 29, and his coach Tim Welch have each campaigned for a possible superfight between the bantamweight champ and Topuria, that curiosity has up to now been unrequited. Topuria threw chilly water over the thought forward of UFC 298, telling MMA Combating that O’Malley nonetheless has “rather a lot to show” at 135 kilos and predicting that Vera will beat O’Malley once more at UFC 299 after beforehand successful by way of first-round knockout in 2020.
As well as, UFC CEO Dana White anointed Dvalishvili as the following No. 1 bantamweight contender at UFC 298’s post-fight press convention after the Georgian successful machine moved right into a tie for the longest win streak within the historical past of the UFC bantamweight division.
However O’Malley just isn’t deterred.
“I’ve stated what I have to say to these guys. And actually, what it comes all the way down to is, I’m going on the market and placed on the efficiency that I say I’m going to placed on towards Chito — a stupendous, masterful efficiency — and I name out whoever I would like on that mic, I feel I can get what battle I would like,” O’Malley stated. “However I’ve acquired to go on the market and do what I do.”
O’Malley and Dvalishvili have traded pictures at each other from afar since Dvalishvili stole O’Malley’s jacket this previous Might throughout an in-cage faceoff with Sterling. O’Malley on Monday conceded that he was “slightly bit” shocked by the convenience with which Dvalishvili outclassed Cejudo, although much less so after sure whispers reached him about Cejudo’s preparation.
“I used to be listening to rumors as much as battle day that, ‘Hey, Henry didn’t have an incredible camp, Henry damage his groin, Henry didn’t get nearly as good of sparring and coaching as a lot as he needed to,’ so with that being stated, you’ll be able to’t go right into a battle not 100% towards Merab,” O’Malley stated. “Merab is a machine, he has a 10-fight win streak. He’s f****** good.”
In the end, O’Malley is aware of the complete debate is moot if he fails to actual his revenge towards Vera at UFC 299, so he’s not counting his chickens earlier than they’re hatched.
However whether or not it’s Dvalishvili ready for him afterward or Topuria or another person completely, O’Malley likes his probabilities to proceed his scorching streak, even when others don’t.
“There’s Merab, there’s Cory [Sandhagen], there’s Ilia. These all have potential for subsequent,” O’Malley stated. “Once more, I’m — increase — laser targeted, dialed into March 9. No matter occurs after that, I’m very assured in. Merab could be very beatable. Henry about knocked him out, Marlon Moraes about knocked him out. Merab’s acquired a loopy good fuel tank, he’s acquired good wrestling, and he’s a harmful opponent. After I consider a scary opponent, like what makes me [shiver], that’s Ilia. Ilia provides me that [feeling of], ‘He may put your f****** lights out and alter your life.’
“That’s a scary opponent. Merab is a harmful opponent, he’s simply acquired that good cardio and he may ultimately put your lights out after you fuel out, however he’s not like [a finisher]. He didn’t end Henry. So we’ll see. I like huge, huge fights. Merab, I’m not saying that wouldn’t be up there, however what it comes all the way down to is, what do the folks actually, really wish to see? In the event that they wish to see Merab, that’s what’s subsequent. However once more, I hate even speaking about that, I’ve acquired Chito in entrance of me.”
