Following his triumphant victory in the bantamweight championship last year, Sean O’Malley optimistically proclaimed the commencement of the ‘Suga Era.’ Considering the explosion of his fame and his standout performance, nobody anticipated an imminent conclusion to this era, especially after his victorious defending bout against Marlon Vera. Yet, the surprise overthrow by Merab Dvalishvili has left fans and experts pondering who O’Malley’s next adversary would be in his journey to regain his top-tier status.
Regarding O’Malley’s next clash, renowned UFC personality Chael Sonnen vocally pointed out that O’Malley will likely face increased attention from wrestlers, a consequence of an observed weak spot in his fighting approach. The anticipation is high, leaving many to question: who’s next to step into the ring with him?
In an ideal scenario, O’Malley would be focused on a quick rematch for the title, but the formidable hold of Dvalishvili makes this a rather improbable outcome. Hence, a more realistic prospect could be stepping into the Octagon with Cory Sandhagen, another notable contender in the division.
The bantamweight bracket seems to be brimming with talent not unlike the lightweight division, filled with megastars making their presence felt. Cory Sandhagen is undeniably among these big names. After a grueling defeat by submission at the hands of Aljamain Sterling, Sandhagen refocused and began ruling over great talents like Frankie Edgar, Rob Font, Marlon Vera, and Marlon Moraes.
Nearing the possibility of a title opportunity, a setback against Umar Nurmagomedov halted his momentum. Setting up a bout between Sandhagen and O’Malley could pave the way for an exciting match and potentially bolster their advocacy for a title opportunity. It’s important to underscore that Sandhagen has already challenged ‘Suga’ for the next fight.
Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov is perceived as a probable contender for Merab Dvalishvili. However, given Dvalishvili’s preference for Deiveson Figueiredo for his next title defense, there exists a cloud of uncertainty over Umar’s immediate future in the title scene. This might push back Nurmagomedov’s expected title opportunity.
Looking at the other side, there could be an open door for Sean O’Malley, who had difficulties dealing with Merab’s wrestling skills, to prove himself against Umar Nurmagomedov, a competitor with a solid wrestling pedigree having been trained by Khabib Nurmagomedov. This would be a golden opportunity for O’Malley to sharpen his wrestling ability and to become a more well-rounded fighter.
Indeed, should O’Malley strengthen his wrestling prowess, he could utilize a potential match against Umar Nurmagomedov to demonstrate his growth as a versatile competitor. It offers an excellent platform to showcase his all-encompassing skills within the UFC octagon. Moreover, existing tension between the two fighters further fans the flames of this potential bout.
In a recent Good Guy Bad Guy video, Chael Sonnen opined that changing divisions could be a beneficial strategy for a dethroned champion, offering a clean slate. This strategy was employed successfully by Alex Pereira after his loss to Israel Adesanya, moving up to the Light Heavyweight division and gaining much popularity through his comprehensive dominant performance.
Given that O’Malley has publicly declared his absence from the UFC till next year, it provides ample time for him to increase his physique, train for a higher weight division, and possibly approach a match with Ilia Topuria. No doubt, both Topuria and O’Malley are among UFC’s brightest stars, drawing considerable attention.
A potential fight between Topuria and O’Malley could capture the imagination of fans and sell arenas out, while also promising to draw impressive revenue for the company. Undoubtedly, the scenario of these shining stars clashing brings a renewed excitement for what the future holds for the UFC.