Sean O’Malley has gotten some assurances from the UFC regarding his future.
The UFC bantamweight division is one of the most stacked in the organization. Champion Aljamain Sterling already has his next bout right in front of him and it is a tough one. Former two-division champ Henry Cejudo is returning from retirement to take on Sterling in the main event of the upcoming UFC 288 fight card. However, the UFC already has the next title challenger all set.
Sean O’Malley is the current number-one contender on the official rankings. He has been waiting patiently for his turn since his last win over Petr Yan back in October. Now he is getting closer to his shot and has been promised by the UFC that he is next.
Sean O’Malley has a promise from the UFC to get the Sterling vs. Cejudo winner
O’Malley was toying with the idea of taking the role of backup for the UFC 288 title fight. He would have to cut weight in over to make the championship limit of 135 pounds with no guarantee he would fight. He has chosen against that and will not wait for his true chance. One that has been promised to him.
“My next fight will be f–ing huge, guaranteed,” he said on his YouTube channel. “The winner of Henry vs. Aljo. Talked to UFC, that’s happening, it’s official. The winner of that fight, I will fight the winner.”
O’Malley will be invested in the bout between Sterling and Cejudo as now his title aspiration hopes lie with the winner. He has been calling both men out for some time but was not willing to rush into anything. Now he is planning out the rest of his 2023 with a title shot in the cards.
“I’m gonna try to fight twice this year, you know what I mean, we’re getting a little late, they’re fighting May, probably May, June, July, he said. “Or maybe once or twice this year depending on how fights go, how fights play out.”
O’Malley is one of the most popular fighters on the roster. He recently came to an agreement with the UFC for a new contract and it seems that perhaps this championship bout was in there. UFC 288 goes down on May 6 in Newark, New Jersey, following that a few months could be needed in between for the champion to recover.
