Sean O’Malley is already making some preparations ahead of his first UFC title shot.
The top bantamweight contender has been on the sidelines since beating former champ Petr Yan at UFC 280 in October. O’Malley’s inactivity is an effect of being promised a title shot. Of course, that won’t come until after the next bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 288.
While ‘Suga’ is certain he’s first in line for gold, he has been longing to get back in the Octagon— even campaigning for a fight at featherweight since Sterling and Cejudo haven’t collided quite yet.
‘Ready To Go’
Instead of fighting at a new weight class, O’Malley will jump into fight camp and start getting ready for the winner, just days after UFC 288 takes place.
“From there, I’m done traveling and I’m in camp,” O’Malley said on his podcast. “Nothing scheduled, but I’m assuming, I’m giving myself three months. May, June, July, August, so I’m just gonna be mentally in camp. I’m gonna be focused, ready to go.”
Interim Titles & Quick Turnarounds
This being the fight game, O’Malley is aware that Sterling or Cejudo could potentially withdraw from their matchup next month. Since ‘Suga’ isn’t interested in filling in as a back-up fighter, he would be down to do an interim title fight.
Or in a better scenario, O’Malley would get the winner of Sterling-Cejudo in the next few months.
“I’m hoping Henry or Aljo, if something happens to them and they do have an injury where they have to get surgery and they’re gonna be out for longer than six months, I think they will do an interim belt because I gotta fight. They gotta let big daddy fight. But if not, if one of them gets outta there unscathed, I think they do a quick turnaround. They got to. I, the number one contender, number two, whatever, needs a f*cking fight.
“The people wanna see it. They don’t even care who’s gonna be champ,” O’Malley added. “The only reason they care is because they get to see who I’m fighting next. And that’s just true, bud. So, sit down Henry or stand up or whatever you do.”
