Following his recent bout at UFC 316, former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O`Malley indicated he won`t be taking an extended break from fighting.
At UFC 316 in Newark, Sean O`Malley`s bid to reclaim the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili was unsuccessful. Their fight was competitive initially, but Dvalishvili secured a decisive victory via north-south choke submission in the third round. This marked Dvalishvili`s second win over O`Malley in nine months, having previously taken the title by unanimous decision at UFC 306.
O`Malley now finds himself in a challenging spot within the bantamweight division`s title picture. Securing another immediate title opportunity against Dvalishvili is unlikely unless the championship changes hands.
His current predicament draws parallels to Max Holloway, who remained in the featherweight division despite multiple losses to Alexander Volkanovski. Holloway eventually earned another shot when Ilia Topuria defeated Volkanovski, but he suffered his first career knockout loss to Topuria at UFC 298.
Despite speculation about a potential move up to featherweight, O`Malley appears focused on facing another top fighter in the bantamweight ranks for his next appearance.
Speaking on his podcast, the TimboSugarShow, O`Malley discussed his future plans and potential return timeframe. He stated, “The division’s gonna play out over the next few months… We’ll see where it goes. December seems like it would make sense for me to get back in there…” He acknowledged the high skill level of contenders like Umar Nurmagomedov and others in the top rankings, adding that he is currently enjoying a break from thinking about his next opponent.
Prior to these consecutive losses to Dvalishvili, O`Malley had captured the bantamweight belt by knocking out Aljamain Sterling and successfully defended it against Marlon Vera at UFC 299. This marks the first time O`Malley has experienced back-to-back defeats in his professional career.
Before UFC 316, O`Malley`s coach, Tim Welch, had suggested a potential future transition to featherweight, citing increasing difficulty with the 135 lbs weight cut. However, O`Malley seemed to make the weight successfully for UFC 316, although he ultimately lost to the ascending Dvalishvili.
Should O`Malley decide to move up to the 145 lbs division, several compelling potential opponents await. A fight against Alexander Volkanovski, who recently regained the featherweight title at UFC 314, could be appealing for both fighters. However, Volkanovski`s next defense is rumored to be a rematch against Yair Rodriguez, potentially delaying opportunities for other contenders like Movsar Evloev.
Regardless of his opponent, O`Malley`s next fight is expected to be a significant event. While an immediate third fight with Dvalishvili seems improbable, it`s certainly possible O`Malley could earn another title shot in the future.
Gareth Pendleton