Sean O’Malley is aware of the tough stylistic matchup that awaits him in the future.
UFC 280 marked the biggest moment in “Suga’s” MMA career thus far, defeating former bantamweight champion Petr Yan via a hard-fought split decision. Once known as the “unranked champion,” O’Malley catapulted himself from the No. 10 spot in the official UFC rankings to the top contender. UFC President Dana White has informed O’Malley that his next fight will give him the opportunity to win promotional gold. O’Malley seemingly won’t be a part of the very next 135-pound championship bout, however.
The current champion Aljamain Sterling and returning ex-champion Henry Cejudo have both come out to claim that they’re fighting each other next. O’Malley is now on the outside, honing his wrestling skills in preparation for any matchup regardless of who awaits them as champion.
“I’m just training, I’m getting better,” O’Malley said on Believe You Me. “Whether I’m fighting ‘Aljo’ or Henry, I know that I have to work harder on my grappling skills. Both are very strong grapplers so it’s fine for me to sit out. It’s just me grappling. This is all that I do. It’s fine to wait a few months. Just keep improving .”
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The Yan victory came this past October in Abu Dhabi where O’Malley fought for the second time in 2022. For the Contender Series alumni, a summertime date has been set.
O’Malley doesn’t like to wait too long but he feels it is the right decision at this moment.
” I’m in a difficult position,” O’Malley stated. “I always knew I’d be in this position where you’re at the top of the division. It doesn’t really make sense to fight. It’s guaranteed that I will be given the title shot. Henry and ‘Aljo” still need to be revealed. It’s a dilemma. Do I wait to see if those dorks fight, or am I smart enough to risk my career and fight another person? Which wouldn’t be the intelligent thing to do, but it’s like you only get so many years to fight. It’s not something I enjoy doing.
“I’m leaning towards waiting around for ‘Aljo’ and Henry to fight and just wait for that.”
On paper, neither matchup seems to favor O’Malley’s talented striker. Cejudo’s Olympic-caliber wrestling abilities accompanied by an evolving overall game carried him to dual-division champion status before retiring in May 2020.
Sterling doesn’t flinch on the ground, winning fights by imposition of his will and en route for any victory possible. O’Malley is convinced that “Triple C’s”, despite his impressive achievements in and outside of MMA, will not be overcome by the “Funk Master”, who has been active since a while.
” I think that ‘Aljo’ submits Henry,” O’Malley stated. Henry has been working hard. These last few years he had a baby, he clearly wasn’t in good shape. He looked overweight and drunk every time you saw him fight .”
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TOP STORIES
Story. Jiri Prochazka details how he injured shoulder, why T.J. Dillashaw influenced decision to not fight
Gamesmanship. Drew Dober had tough time matching Bobby Green’s trash talk: ‘He told me to shut up and he hit me with a 2-piece’
Bold. Sean O’Malley claimed to have declined Ramzan Kadyrov’s invitation to Chechnya.
Bummer. Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa scrapped from UFC 284 card in Australia
Update. BKFC: Paige VanZant ‘welcome’ to compete again, but she’s doing ‘very, very well’ outside of fighting
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Rousey vs. Tate 2 flashback.
Bellator featherweight title history.
RIZIN Confessions 112.
Merab is Jamaica.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Oh yes.
. @BellatorMMA vs. @rizin_PR – New Year’s Eve in Japan pic.twitter.com/Soxbhrtcif
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 19, 2022
Wonderful.
shirts that go hard pic.twitter.com/eTLRvV0Khn
— Hektic_One (@hektic_one) December 19, 2022
Damn.
Status Update #UFC284 #UFCPerth @ufc @UFC_AUSNZ pic.twitter.com/dPl4q2S8nj
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) December 19, 2022
Hmm…
Twinning.
Twins pic.twitter.com/NmO8e1jNDQ
— Bryan Battle (@BryanBattle10) December 20, 2022
Biggie deer.
My little reindeer pic.twitter.com/zUsjoEaWEp
— Pannie Kianzad UFC (@PannieKianzad) December 19, 2022
Mullet.
What an honour!! https://t.co/VpPlJXntEr
— Aaron Jeffery (@aajmma) December 19, 2022
Zion.
WHAT AN INCREDIBLE STORY
Zion Clark won in his pro MMA debut
(via @gcmmafights, craig.levinson/IG, @bigz97) pic.twitter.com/cyfLyrN916
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 19, 2022
Ref had beef.
OMG. Xia Lianyang just unloaded twelve punches on a standing, unconscious Cheng Jin against the ropes while the ref was clearly checking his phone or something. Scary. #MMA pic.twitter.com/1OfEbh89TL
— Chris Presnell (@mmaecosystem) December 18, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ovince St. Preux (26-16) vs. Philipe Lins (15-5); UFC Vegas 69, Feb. 18
FINAL THOUGHTS
O’Malley at least knows what to do. Not sure it will make much of a difference though.
Thanks so much for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 71% of 588 total votes answered “Jared Cannonier” when asked, “Who wins tomorrow?” Cannonier defeated Sean Strickland via split decision in the UFC Vegas 66 main event.
Thursday: 52% of 491 total votes answered “Drew Dober” when asked, “Who wins this weekend?” Dober defeated Bobby Green via second-round knockout (punch) at 2:45.
Wednesday: 822 total votes answered “Paddy Pimblett’s unanimous decision over Jared Gordon” when asked, “Which was a worse decision?” between that and Sean O’Malley’s split decision over Petr Yan.
Tuesday: 64% of 695 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Will Islam Makhachev surpass the UFC lightweight title defense record (3)?”
Monday: 78% of 682 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Was Paddy Pimblett’s win a robbery?”
Today’s exit poll:
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Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/20/23517180/morning-report-sean-omalley-literally-just-grappling-in-preparation-for-guaranteed-title-shot-ufc?rand=96749
