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Jose Aldo makes a case for Sean O'Malley to get the next UFC bantamweight title shot.
After back-to-back title losses to Merab Dvalishvili, O'Malley (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) rebounded with a decision win over Song Yadong, followed by a knockout over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost his title to Petr Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) at UFC 323, and expects to get an immediate shot to avenge his loss. However, former UFC champion Aldo sees O'Malley in the title conversation.
"It all depends on what the UFC decides to do with Merab," Aldo said in an interview with Covers.com. "He was a dominant champion and maybe he deserves an immediate rematch. But if that rematch doesn't happen, I see Sean O'Malley as the leading candidate.
"After his most recent performance, he strengthened his case considerably. I still have doubts about some decisions that went against other fighters in the division, but O'Malley remains a major name and an extremely marketable one."
O'Malley holds a close decision win over Yan at UFC 280, and Aldo thinks the right business move is to have them run things back next.
"In fact, I've always believed Petr Yan won their first fight, but the judges gave it to O'Malley," Aldo said. "As a fan, I'd much rather watch a rematch between Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley than see another fight between Merab and Yan."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jose Aldo: Yan should face 'extremely marketable' O'Malley, not Dvalishvili
Continue reading...
After back-to-back title losses to Merab Dvalishvili, O'Malley (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) rebounded with a decision win over Song Yadong, followed by a knockout over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) lost his title to Petr Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) at UFC 323, and expects to get an immediate shot to avenge his loss. However, former UFC champion Aldo sees O'Malley in the title conversation.
"It all depends on what the UFC decides to do with Merab," Aldo said in an interview with Covers.com. "He was a dominant champion and maybe he deserves an immediate rematch. But if that rematch doesn't happen, I see Sean O'Malley as the leading candidate.
"After his most recent performance, he strengthened his case considerably. I still have doubts about some decisions that went against other fighters in the division, but O'Malley remains a major name and an extremely marketable one."
O'Malley holds a close decision win over Yan at UFC 280, and Aldo thinks the right business move is to have them run things back next.
"In fact, I've always believed Petr Yan won their first fight, but the judges gave it to O'Malley," Aldo said. "As a fan, I'd much rather watch a rematch between Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley than see another fight between Merab and Yan."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jose Aldo: Yan should face 'extremely marketable' O'Malley, not Dvalishvili
Continue reading...
