Sean to get a title shot?
Sean O’Malley thinks he is the champion the UFC needs right now.
The biggest test of O’Malley’s professional life will come in October when he competes against former bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC 280. The winner of Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw, which also occurs on that card, will face O’Malley for the next opportunity to defend his bantamweight title. O’Malley believes that if he succeeds, he will become the 135-pound champion the UFC has been searching for.
Also read: UFC 279 to feature Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev!
O’Malley on UFC 280
“I was trying to be humble, but you’re absolutely right. I f****** beat Petr, I’m going to be the champ, I’m going to fight for the belt,” O’Malley told Michael Bisping on Bisping’s YouTube channel. “That’s what everyone wants. The UFC needs a champion like me. So yeah, you’re 100 percent right. I go out there and starch Petr, he faces plants on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, on a massive card, you’re pretty accurate in saying I’ll get the title shot. Especially with Aljo and T.J. being on that card. ”
O’Malley has never defeated a fighter in the Top-10 and is currently only the 13th-ranked bantamweight in the UFC rankings. At UFC 276 against Pedro Munhoz, “Suga” had the chance to win the fight, but O’Malley’s unintentional eye poke ended the fight and forced a no-contest. Even so, a victory over Yan, who is ranked No. 1, would appear to put him in the running for the title.
“I’m pretty sure T.J. said he wouldn’t fight me for his title defense,” O’Malley said. “There’s a couple ways you could look at that. You could look at that like he doesn’t want to fight me because he knows I’m good, or that’s pretty much the only reason I can figure out why he wouldn’t want to fight me. I’m the biggest fighter in the division for anybody. ”
Also read: Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler: Should we expect the lightweight grudge match at UFC 281?
O’Malley: A Potential Champion?
Although Dillashaw has previously criticized O’Malley, saying that he “has too many holes” to win the title, a victory over Yan might convince Dillashaw to reconsider. Because, in O’Malley’s opinion, he can defeat Yan wherever the fight takes place, and because he intends to refute those who doubt him at UFC 280.
“I believe this is going to be a sweet kickboxing match,” O’Malley said. “Petr says he’s a master of boxing, I believe I’m the best MMA striker in the UFC, so I do believe it will be a very interesting, high-level kickboxing match… I don’t think he’s coming to wrestle, and if he does, I wouldn’t mind choking him. I’m very, very confident in my jiu-jitsu. I really haven’t gotten to show it at all. “
On October 22, UFC 280 will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
