Sean O’Malley: What to Do Next?
Last night, Sean O’Malley challenged Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight title in a highly anticipated rematch. From the start, Sean was dominated by Merab’s relentless pressure and grappling, unable to find his rhythm or impose his game plan. The fight ended in the third round when Merab secured a submission that forced Sean to tap out. It was a tough night for O’Malley and a difficult look for a fighter who had once been considered the division’s brightest star. Now the question remains: where does Sean go from here after such a decisive loss?
Is it over for Sean O’Malley? Many fans are quick to criticize him, saying he never deserved the title fight against Aljamain Sterling, but this kind of backlash happens every time a fighter loses. Sean O’Malley is a great fighter who is still in his prime and remains one of the biggest and brightest stars in the UFC. He is easy to dislike because he has proven so many people wrong before. Despite last night’s tough loss, there is every reason to believe Sean is due for a strong bounceback in his career.
Who should the UFC match Sean O’Malley with next? The obvious answer is another striker, giving fans a fun and competitive fight that plays to O’Malley’s strengths. He is still ranked number one in the Bantamweight division, so matching him with someone too far down the rankings would not make much sense. Strikers near the top include Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, Song Yadong, Marlon Vera, and Rob Font. While all of those matchups are exciting, the Vera and Font fights may be a bit too low for Sean’s current position. The Sandhagen fight is the most compelling, but it appears the UFC is looking to slot him into a title fight. If Petr Yan is already being booked elsewhere, that leaves Song Yadong, and that matchup has all the ingredients for a striking war. Book it for late this year.
Sean O’Malley took a tough loss last night, but he is still one of the best fighters in the Bantamweight Division. He fought what many believe is the greatest Bantamweight of all time and lost, and there is no shame in that. Fans were looking for a reason to hate him, and now they feel they have one. But it is not over for this young star. This second era of his career is just beginning. Expect a huge comeback filled with exciting knockouts, and get ready for the next chapter of the Suga Show.
