After suffering a second loss to Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley expressed his eagerness to step back into the octagon quickly. The bout, which took place at UFC 316, ended with Dvalishvili securing a second-round submission, solidifying his hold on the UFC Bantamweight Championship. Despite this setback, O’Malley is focused on continuing his pursuit of top-tier opponents and reclaiming his position in the division.
Interest in Matchup Against Cory Sandhagen
During an appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, O’Malley revealed he had proposed a possible fight against Cory Sandhagen following sudden changes to the UFC 318 card. The co-main event for UFC 318, originally featuring Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, fell apart, and O’Malley saw an opportunity to contend.
I was actually trying to fight Cory [Sandhagen] when the co-main event fell out for that Max [Holloway] and Dustin [Poirier] fight,
O’Malley stated.
He added he suggested the fight to UFC, mentioning,
“I threw my name out there to UFC. I was like… three weeks, me vs. Cory would be sweet, but it didn’t really make sense for the UFC.”
Cory vs. Merab was the next fight to make. But yeah, me vs. Cory is a very interesting fight. That’s one that’s bound to happen, sooner than later.
—Sean O’Malley, UFC fighter
Upcoming Bantamweight Title Fight and Future Prospects
Cory Sandhagen is scheduled to challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 320 on October 4. This co-headlining event will also feature a light heavyweight title rematch between champion Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, drawing significant attention in the world of mixed martial arts.
Dvalishvili had expressed interest in facing Sandhagen well before his recent rematch with O’Malley, setting the stage for a highly anticipated confrontation. As for O’Malley, his path forward will require climbing back up the bantamweight rankings if he hopes to once again compete for the championship.
O’Malley has stated his intention to continue fighting as long as his physical condition allows, demonstrating commitment to maintaining a high level of performance despite recent losses.
Implications for the Bantamweight Division
The upcoming clash between Sandhagen and Dvalishvili will likely shape the future landscape of the bantamweight division. O’Malley’s willingness to face tough opponents quickly highlights his determination to remain relevant and vie for another shot at the title. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how these matchups affect the championship picture in the coming months.