Sean O’Malley, the current UFC bantamweight champion, has acknowledged that there is only one fighter in the UFC who truly deserves a shot at his title next, provided he is successful in his upcoming fight against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.
After Ilia Topuria’s victory over Alexander Volkanovski, O’Malley mentioned his interest in facing the new champion and potentially becoming a dual-weight champion. However, this comment received backlash from fans who argued that Merab Dvalishvili, coming off a win against Henry Cejudo, should be O’Malley’s next challenger if he defeats Vera at UFC 299.
Addressing the feedback on his YouTube channel, O’Malley acknowledged the validity of these opinions.
Although initially interested in a bout with Ilia, O’Malley recognized the fan demand for a fight with Merab Dvalishvili, stating, “So Merab’s next. Let’s do Merab.”
In anticipation of a potential matchup with Dvalishvili, O’Malley confidently expressed his belief that he would secure a knockout victory, emphasizing his speed, precision, and confidence in his abilities.
While acknowledging the possibility of a future fight with Ilia, O’Malley prioritizes making the biggest and most exciting matchups for the fans.
Sources:
– MMA Fighting
– The Mac Life