Sean O’Malley had no intention of ever preventing Alex Volkanovski.
Effectively, it seems “Suga” needs nothing to do with undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, both, regardless of calling for “El Matador” within the wake of Topuria’s gorgeous knockout victory over “The Nice” at UFC 298 final weekend in Anaheim.
Turns on the market was an excessive amount of “pushback” from fickle battle followers sticking up for bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili, who punched his ticket to a 135-pound title shot by steamrolling former two-division kingpin Henry Cejudo, additionally at UFC 298.
“I wished the Ilia battle, it excites me, however I additionally thought the followers would get enthusiastic about it,” O’Malley stated on YouTube. “I obtained a number of pushback, saying ‘you’re ducking Merab, Merab is subsequent.’ So, Merab’s subsequent. Let’s do Merab. I’m telling you guys, I knock Merab out. Clearly I gotta get via ‘Chito,’ however I’m telling you guys, once I battle Merab I’m knocking that dude out. He’s sloppy. I’m correct. I’m too quick. I’m too sharp. I put Merab’s lights out — worse than Aljo.”
O’Malley is about to defend his bantamweight title in opposition to longtime nemesis Marlon Vera atop the upcoming UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) card subsequent month in Miami. “Suga” was defeated by “Chito” once they first went to battle at UFC 252 again in late 2020.
Within the almost 4 years since that battle befell, “Suga” is 5-0 (1 NC), which incorporates his knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling — coaching associate of Dvalishvili — at UFC 292 final Aug. in Boston. Vera, two years older at 31, is 5-2 throughout that very same span.
For the remainder of the UFC 299 battle card and PPV lineup click on right here.
