Cheima Moufdil
Sean O’Malley’s next fight could be one of the biggest showdowns in the bantamweight division, but fans might have to wait until June for it to happen. The UFC bantamweight champion is currently eyeing a return to action, and Cory Sandhagen is more than willing to meet him in the octagon.
Sandhagen, a former title challenger and one of the top contenders at 135 pounds, has been vocal about his desire to face O'Malley. Speaking on Michael Bisping’s YouTube channel, Sandhagen expressed surprise that the UFC hasn’t already moved to book the fight, considering how much buzz it has generated among fans.
“You read all the comments, and you talk to fans, and that’s the fight everyone wants to see happen,” Sandhagen said. “I’m actually kind of surprised the UFC hasn’t come to me or Sean about that fight yet or even asked, ‘Hey, are you willing to wait till June?’ because I would entertain that big time.”
O’Malley is coming off a stunning title win against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, a victory that solidified his position as one of the most exciting fighters in the division. While Sandhagen has been on a hot streak, defeating names like Marlon Vera and Rob Font, his sights are set on a clash with O’Malley—what he sees as a “banger of a fight.”
“I really want to give fans what they’re paying to see,” Sandhagen explained. “If it means waiting to give fans the fight they’re most excited for, I would definitely entertain that. I’d rather not have it all the way in June, but there’s no better fight you can make.”
In the meantime, Sandhagen revealed that he was offered a fight against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, but that bout fell through. With Figueiredo now expected to face Petr Yan, Sandhagen believes that O’Malley remains the only logical next step.
“O’Malley is the only fight,” Sandhagen said. “Maybe the winner of Yan and Figgy if O’Malley is still not mentioning that fight, but right now, I feel like me and O’Malley is the one everyone wants to see.”
With O’Malley targeting a summer return, it remains to be seen if the UFC will line up this highly anticipated matchup. For now, fans will have to wait and hope that these two top bantamweights collide in what promises to be an unforgettable fight.