This UFC legend is backing Sean O’Malley to bounce back from his devastating submission defeat at UFC 316.
The former UFC Bantamweight champion was looking to regain his title from Merab Dvalishvili, following a unanimous decision loss to the Georgian at UFC 306.
Despite Sean O’Malley’s lifestyle changes and improved conditioning, he was forced to submit by Dvalishvili in the third round of their rematch at UFC 316, handing him back-to-back losses for the first time in his career.
However, the setback should not confuse fans into thinking O’Malley isn’t a top contender, according to one UFC legend.
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Chael Sonnen admits Sean O’Malley deserves to still be #1 ranked Bantamweight
Despite O’Malley’s third-round loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 316, Chael Sonnen still thinks he’s the best fighter in the division outside the champion.
Speaking on Good Guy/Bad Guy, the UFC legend admitted that O’Malley is “better than everybody else” in the division, despite having a problem beating Dvalishvili.
Sonnen said: “Sean went out there and fought great. He stopped those takedowns, found the straights up the middle, and started landing shots to the body with the teeps.
“He was cutting left and right, marching forward—everything he set out to do, he was doing.
Then he got caught in a nasty position. You have to tap—that’s the rules of the game. When you can no longer breathe, that’s it. It was a great job by Merab.
But if you’re O’Malley, there’s no reason to be too down. You’ve got a job, and it’s all about PR—kind of like track and field.
“Did I do better this time than I did last time? As long as the answer keeps being ‘yes,’ you stay the course.
“He fought better. He’s ranked number one, and he should be—he’s better than everybody else. But he’s got a problem with Merab. That’s okay. That’s why we play the game. Shake hands, walk away.”
O’Malley is still the #1-ranked fighter in the UFC Bantamweight division, ahead of Umar Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan at #2 and #3.
What’s next for Sean O’Malley?
Losing to Dvalishvili for the second time in a row leaves O’Malley in a lurch. He’s the #1 ranked contender in the division, but he won’t get another title shot against the current champion.
The UFC 316 loss could have huge ramifications for his career. Sonnen has suggested that O’Malley move up to Featherweight after that defeat for a prospective fight with champion Alexander Volkanovski.
However, if he stays at 135 lbs, O’Malley’s next opponent could be the #10-ranked Mario Bautista, following impressive wins over Jose Aldo and Patchy Mix in recent fights.
Other suggestions include bouts with Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong, although the American fighter will want a third crack at the champion if he manages to beat all the top Bantamweights in the division.