Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O`Malley does not intend to take an extended break from competition following UFC 316.
Sean O`Malley`s attempt to avenge his previous loss against UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 in Newark did not go as planned. After a competitive back-and-forth contest, Dvalishvili secured a surprising third-round submission victory via a north-south choke.
This marks Dvalishvili`s second victory over O`Malley in their recent rivalry, having first claimed the title from O`Malley via unanimous decision at UFC 306 just nine months prior.
O`Malley now finds himself in an unusual position within the bantamweight title picture. Getting another championship opportunity might take considerable time unless a different contender dethrones Dvalishvili.
Sean O`Malley Shares Initial UFC Return Timeline After UFC 316 Loss
O`Malley`s situation is somewhat comparable to that of Max Holloway, who opted to remain in the featherweight division despite three losses to Alexander Volkanovski. Holloway earned another title shot after Ilia Topuria defeated Volkanovski at UFC 298, though Holloway was subsequently knocked out by Topuria, suffering the first knockout loss of his career.
However, despite speculation about a potential move to featherweight, O`Malley appears content for his return bout to be against another top contender in the bantamweight division.
During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O`Malley provided insight into his future plans and when he might step back into the cage.
“The division`s gonna play out over the next few months,” O`Malley stated.
“We`ll see where it goes. December seems like it would make sense for me to get back in there… Umar [Nurmagomedov] is so skilled, everyone in the Top 5, Top 10 is so skilled.”
“It`s nice to not think about a fight right now, I don`t want to know right now.”
Before his consecutive losses to Dvalishvili, O`Malley had claimed the bantamweight title by knocking out Aljamain Sterling and successfully defended it against Marlon Vera at UFC 299. The current two-fight skid represents the first losing streak of O`Malley`s professional career.
In the lead-up to UFC 316, O`Malley`s coach Tim Welch hinted at a future move to featherweight, citing the increasing difficulty for O`Malley to make the 135 lbs weight limit. Nevertheless, O`Malley appeared in excellent physical condition for UFC 316, even though he was defeated by the rising star Dvalishvili on fight night.
Sean O’Malley Doesn’t Rule Out Featherweight Move After UFC 316
Should O`Malley eventually move to the 145 lbs division, there are several compelling potential matchups awaiting the former bantamweight champion. With Alexander Volkanovski regaining the featherweight title earlier this year at UFC 314, a fight between him and O`Malley could be significant for both athletes.
However, rumors suggest Volkanovski may face a familiar opponent for his next title defense, potentially delaying a title shot for top contender Movsar Evloev. Speculation points towards a rematch with Yair Rodriguez being the next featherweight title bout.
Regardless of who O`Malley faces next in the Octagon, it is sure to be another high-profile fight. While a third fight against Dvalishvili is unlikely in the immediate future, it wouldn`t be surprising to see O`Malley fight his way back into title contention to challenge the champion again.
Percy Harlow