“Yeah, I’ll do it – I want to be a double champion,” O’Malley said in an interview with Demetrious Johnson. “Elijah has a face like that, I’d love to charge him with a knee and break his little nose. That’s why I’m going to go to California and attend the fight. Elijah is dangerous as hell, he’s one of the best all-around fighters – I know for a fact he doesn’t suck, but I’ll turn his lights out.”
For this fight to become a reality, Topuria must defeat Volkanovski and O’Malley must defend his title against Marlon Vera.
“I want to fight Elijah in September at the Sphere Arena in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Day – that’s what I’m trying to fulfill at the moment. Obviously, I need to get past Chito, a very tough, stand-up Ecuadorian.”
As a reminder, a fight between Volkanovski and Topuria on Feb. 17 will headline UFC 298 in Anaheim, while a clash between O’Malley and Vera will headline UFC 299 on March 9 in Miami.