A potential blockbuster clash is brewing in the UFC bantamweight division as Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen remain among the most talked-about fighters in the weight class. While the two have not yet met in the Octagon, their shared history against top contenders like champion Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Chito Vera keeps fans speculating about a showdown.
Following Sandhagen’s loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 320, discussions about a fight with O’Malley have intensified. O’Malley had already named Sandhagen as a possible opponent for the UFC White House event earlier this year, and Sandhagen has expressed his interest in the matchup, suggesting the timing could be right for one of the division’s most anticipated bouts.
Tim Welch Predicts Sandhagen Will Grapple Against O’Malley
Sandhagen showed flashes of skill in his fight against Dvalishvili, particularly during a solid first round. However, after nearly being knocked out in the second round, O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, doubts Sandhagen will stand and trade blows with the dynamic striker.
“Cory [Sandhagen] is not an easy guy because he’s so good at mixing it in,” Welch said on his YouTube channel. But I do think you saw how hurt he was vs. Merab hitting him. And Merab is confident. He’s throwing those punches hard. But again, Suga f**king hits people hard, dude.
“And he hits them on the money, lights out, hurts them to their body real hard, and then he finds a spot to put it on the money. Boom. To just KO somebody. So, I think it’ll be the first guy Cory’s fought who hits as hard as Suga. Cory, he’s gonna be trying to shoot…
“He’s not gonna just sit there and strike with Sean. He says he is, but he’s not. He’s gonna mix in shots, try to get on top, try to do what he did vs. Chito Vera,” Welch added.
Sandhagen Confirms Interest in O’Malley Fight
There’s one name and one matchup that continues to stand out to both fans and the fighter himself, and it’s the long-discussed meeting with former champion Sean O’Malley.
“I think that me and O’Malley has to happen,” Sandhagen said to Ariel Helwani recently. “If there’s ever a time to do it, it’s now. I don’t know if he’s booked on anything. That White House card would be sick to fight on against O’Malley. There’s one fight in the division that people are really, really calling for over and over and over again, and it’s me and O’Malley. If you threw us on that White House card, I think that would be such a gigantic fight.
“It’s kind of a ways away, so I’m not stoked on that. But for such a huge card against such a good fighter and a really good opportunity for the both of us to give the fans what they really wanna see, it would be worth waiting for.”
O’Malley has been mostly out of the spotlight since his submission loss in the rematch with Dvalishvili this past June. While “Suga” has hinted at a potential return, nothing has been officially scheduled, leaving the door open for a fight with Sandhagen.
If the bout comes to fruition, it could become a defining moment in the bantamweight division, giving Sandhagen the chance to remain among the elite and allowing O’Malley to reestablish his position against a highly skilled striker.
Until then, Sandhagen plans to stay active, continue refining his skills, and remain prepared for any opportunities that arise in the division.
