Sean O’Malley is keeping his options open when it comes to his next opponent. Despite being focused on his upcoming fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, O’Malley says there’s no certainty he’ll face Umar Nurmagomedov next, even if he wins.
Nurmagomedov, who remains undefeated at 18-0, recently made headlines with his victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi. This win elevated Umar to the #2 spot in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
O’Malley, who is the reigning bantamweight champion, discussed his future on the latest episode of the ‘TimboSugarShow’. He acknowledged the potential of a matchup with Nurmagomedov but also mentioned other intriguing options.
UFC Star Sean O’Malley Says He’s Got Options After UFC 306 Fight With Merab Dvalishvili
“It’s an interesting matchup, O’Malley vs. Nurmagomedov. ‘Figgy’ beat ‘Chito’ on the same card. Figgy called me out. That could be next. I don’t know. Max (Holloway) vs. Ilia (Topuria) is coming up; I would love an opportunity to go up to ’45,” O’Malley shared.
The bantamweight champion explained that he has several potential opponents in mind. “Max, Ilia, Nurmagomedov, Figgy; I’ve got a lot of options. I feel like I’ll be able to make a callout. Obviously, last fight I beat ‘Chito,’ called out Ilia, didn’t get that fight. So just because you win, doesn’t mean you’re gonna be able to pick. But if I go out there and flatline Merab, I feel like that callout would mean something. It depends what happens. … Maybe Umar and ‘Figgy’ fight,” O’Malley said.
At 29 years old, O’Malley’s career is in a dynamic phase. He’s currently focused on his upcoming bout against Dvalishvili, which will be his second title defense. This fight is scheduled for September 14th at UFC 306, taking place at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dvalishvili, known as ‘The Machine,’ is on an impressive winning streak. He has secured ten consecutive victories, with his latest triumph coming against Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 in February. Dvalishvili won that bout by unanimous decision, solidifying his position as a top contender.
As the fight date approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome. O’Malley’s performance against Dvalishvili will likely influence his future matchups. The bantamweight division remains as competitive as ever, and O’Malley’s next opponent could depend on a variety of factors.
What are your thoughts on the potential matchups for Sean O’Malley? Would you like to see him go up against Umar Nurmagomedov before the end of the year? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
