Sean O'Malley seems determined to leave behind the hard defeat suffered for Merab Dvalishvili No. UFC 316. In the setback, the former bantamweight champion (up to 61,7 kg) was thoroughly dominated and submitted by the Georgian, but he already tried to expedite his return to the Octagon. Shortly after, he offered to fight again at a minimum interval, a plan that ultimately fell through.
During his appearance on the 'Overdogs' podcast, O'Malley revealed that he tried to confront Cory Sandhagen at UFC 318. Even with only three weeks to prepare, he believed that the fight could shake up the card and deliver a great spectacle.
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"Actually, I was trying to fight Cory (Sandhagen) on that Max vs. Dustin card. I put my name out there to the UFC. Three weeks, me against Cory, would have been awesome," O'Malley said.
The idea, however, didn't move forward. According to the fighter, the UFC opted to stick with its original plans of placing Sandhagen in a title fight against Merab, a bout already in the works that made more sense for the organization.
"It didn't make sense for the UFC. Cory vs. Merab was the fight that needed to happen next. But, yes. Me vs. Cory is a very interesting fight. It's something that will happen sooner or later," added the former champion.
Sean O'Malley predicts Merab will be a slight favorite against Sandhagen, but avoids ruling out his rival.
When analyzing the title fight, O'Malley highlighted the current champion's physical strength and impressive stamina, factors that could be decisive if he can impose his takedown and control game. Still, he noted Sandhagen as one of the most technical athletes in the division, which prevents him from being underestimated.
"Man, I think if Merab can hold Cory, I just don't see a way out... Merab seemed really strong to me, especially in certain positions. His gas is insane. I don't know. If I had to bet, I'd say Merab, but it's hard to rule out Cory because I think, skill for skill, he's one of the best guys in the UFC," he opined.
Merab Dvalishvili e Cory Sandhagen face each other in the co-main event of UFC 320. The card will also feature a rematch between Magomed Ankalayev e Alex Poatán for the light heavyweight belt (up to 93 kg). Already Sean O'Malley, despite the rush to return, still has no confirmed date for his next commitment.
Read More about: Cory Sandhagen, Merab Dvalishivili, Sean O'Malley, UFC, UFC 316, UFC 318
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