For what looks like years now, Sean O’Malley has been telling us he’s a celebrity. Nearest his lopsided decision win in the main event of UFC 299 on Saturday night, it looks like community may well be in a position to imagine him.
O’Malley didn’t simply beat Marlon Vera in his first name protection as UFC bantamweight champion — he outclassed him. He picked Vera aside with pace and precision, checking out each ounce of the toughness Vera is understood for date additionally proving his personal when required past due within the battle.
Someone who used to be considering his title-winning performance against Aljamain Sterling ultimate 12 months used to be a fluke now has to confess that O’Malley is the champ for an excellent reason why. He would possibly seem like a thin child who’s extra involved in taste than substance, however the dude can flat out battle. Should you don’t suppose so, simply have a look at the utterly other circumstance Vera’s face had assumed by way of the tip of the battle Saturday in Miami.
So now what?
O’Malley were given at the mic nearest his unanimous determination win and known as for a battle in Spain towards newly topped 145-pound champ Ilia Topuria. That will be a completely large battle if the UFC determined to place it in combination. It might even be an overly difficult battle for O’Malley to win, regardless that you’ll’t assistance however respect the center and self assurance it takes to be so desperate to struggle. (Historical past tells us that UFC champs are normally a lot more into the ones champ as opposed to champ fights when it’s any individual smaller coming as much as meet them.)
The extra is keep house at 135 kilos and face Refuse. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili, who O’Malley stated he’d even be keen to battle if Topuria isn’t an choice. In equity, Dvalishvili merits a name shot. And with this high-paced, wrestling-heavy assault, he’d provide a fresh and really tricky problem for O’Malley.
There’s additionally a excellent probability Dvalishvili would beat him, and after there is going the probability to produce a megafight between two nascent stars in O’Malley and Topuria. Dvalishvili has been so affected person on his relentless climb towards the govern that it nearly feels too heartless to invite him to attend date the champ jets off to any other category. And but, if we’re being truthful? A superfight between two of the UFC’s latest younger champs additionally turns out too engaging to forget about.
No matter comes after for O’Malley, he’s bringing a ton of eyeballs to any battle he’s in. This used to be probably the most UFC’s maximum stacked pay-per-view playing cards of the 12 months, and O’Malley gave the impression proper at house on the govern of it. Right here he proved he’s no longer only a few man who seems to be excellent in purple. O’Malley is a reputable UFC champ, and let nobody unsureness it now.
A couple of alternative notes on UFC 299 …
– No matter else they are saying about Vera, they’ll have to mention he’s as difficult as they arrive. O’Malley collision him with the entirety however a lawsuit and nonetheless he stored coming till the literal ultimate 2nd. He would possibly not be capable to unencumber his telephone the usage of Face ID for a date, however nobody will ever query his gameness or his talent to whip a shot.
– Dustin Poirier isn’t anyone’s stepping stone (a minimum of no longer but). This used to be a dangerous battle in each means for him. Benoit Saint Denis is a perilous, hungry younger fighter at the arise. The UFC most likely made this battle considering it will propel Saint Denis to the name dialog with a win. Oddsmakers checked out it and noticed a coarse evening for the 35-year-old Poirier. As soon as once more, the “Diamond” proves he’s too professional, eager and resilient to ever be counted out.
– That’s precisely the UFC debut we must have anticipated from Michael “Venom” Web page. Which is to mention, he did his easiest to entertain us in each conceivable means date additionally ensuring the entire thing used to be simply bizarre plethora. Stylistically, there are patently some evil matchups for him on this category. A excellent wrestler is almost definitely going so to resolve that puzzle and grind out a win. The truth that the UFC picked Holland as his first opponent suggests possibly matchmakers aren’t fascinated by that simply but.
– Jack Della Maddalena snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat. Gilbert Burns used to be two mins clear of a call victory, and he gave the impression to be solidifying his regulate at the mat within the 3rd around. JDM needed to discover a as far back as his ft, and on govern of that he wanted a end. He were given each mainly at the foundation of his athleticism and sheer will. His easy, easy putting is an actual defect when he will get the range to utility it. But when he will get his want and results in a name eliminator with Shavkat Rakhmonov after, he’ll want to alike the ones gaps within the grappling area in no time.
