Sean O’Malley talks future fights with Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili
Appearing on the MMA hour ahead of his title defense at UFC 299, Sean O’Malley talks the future of his career with MMA Hour host Ariel Helwani. The eyes are on Merab Dvalishvili as the next in line but O’Malley teases that there are other options, including a fight with newly crowned featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
I know Topuria is the hot name but sign me up for the Sean O’Malley vs. Cory Sandhagen fight. pic.twitter.com/mZuyoBRvuk
— Blaine Henry (@BlaineHenryTFL) February 19, 2024
Post UFC 299 for Sean O’Malley
When looking past his matchup with Chito Vera, Sean O’Malley brings up three potential options that could be next. Two of them just fought on UFC 298. But “Suga” insists that he’s focused on beating Vera before making his next move concrete.
“There’s Merab [Dvalishvili], there’s Cory [Sandhagen], there’s Ilia [Topuria]. Those three are all potential for next. I’m laser focused, dialed, on Chito [Vera], March 9th. Whatever happens after that, I’m very confident in.”
As brash as he can be, Sean O’Malley knows that Merab is good and what he’s good at. That said, he also knows that he’s a beatable opponent and that he could deal with those problems.
“Merab’s very beatable. Henry about knocked him out. Marlon Moraes almost knocked him out. Merab’s got a really good gas tank, he’s got really good wrestling. He’s a very dangerous opponent.”
Aside from his two options in the division of which he presides, Ilia Topuria is the other option for O’Malley. Looking for greatness, O’Malley knows that the momentum built by Ilia Topuria after UFC 298 would make for a mega fight.
“When I think of a scary opponent, one that makes me go ‘Ohh,’ that’s Ilia. Ilia gives me that ‘He could put your f***ing lights out, change your life. That’s a scary opponent. Merab’s a dangerous opponent, he’s got really good cardio and could potentially put your lights out after you gas out. He didn’t finish Henry.”
It’s those big fights he’s after. At the end of the day, O’Malley is out to give the fans what they want and if that’s Dvalishvili, then so be it.
“We will see. I like big, big fights. When you’re grinding through these fight camps…” O’Malley digresses, “I’m not saying Merab’s not up there. What I’m saying is what do the people really, truly want to see? If they want to see Merab, that’s what’s next. But I hate even talking about that, I’ve got Chito in front of me.”
