An MMA legend is supporting Sean O`Malley to recover from his tough submission loss at UFC 316.
The former UFC Bantamweight champion was looking to regain his title from Merab Dvalishvili, having lost their first encounter at UFC 306 via unanimous decision.
Despite lifestyle changes and improved conditioning, O`Malley was forced to submit to Dvalishvili in the third round of their rematch at UFC 316, marking the first time in his career he`s suffered back-to-back losses.
However, according to a UFC legend, this setback should not lead fans to believe O`Malley is no longer a top contender.
Chael Sonnen Believes Sean O`Malley Deserves to Remain #1 Ranked Bantamweight
Despite O`Malley`s third-round loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 316, Chael Sonnen still believes he is the best fighter in the division, apart from the champion.
Speaking on `Good Guy/Bad Guy`, the UFC legend conceded that O`Malley is “better than everybody else” in the division, despite facing difficulties in defeating Dvalishvili.
Sonnen commented: “Sean went out there and fought great. He stopped takedowns, landed straights up the middle, and hit the body with teeps. He was cutting left and right, moving forward – he was executing his plan. Then he got caught in a bad spot. You have to tap, that`s the rule. If you can`t breathe, that`s it. Merab did a great job.
But O`Malley shouldn`t be too down. His job is about setting personal bests, like in track and field. Did I do better than last time? As long as the answer is `yes,` you stay the course.
He fought better. He`s ranked number one, and he should be – he`s better than everybody else. But he has a problem specifically with Merab. That`s okay. That`s why we play the game. Shake hands, walk away.”
O`Malley remains the #1 ranked fighter in the UFC Bantamweight division, ahead of Umar Nurmagomedov at #2 and Petr Yan at #3.
What`s Next for Sean O`Malley?
Losing to Dvalishvili for the second consecutive time leaves O`Malley in a challenging situation. He is the #1 ranked contender, but will likely not receive another title shot against the current champion immediately.
The UFC 316 loss could have significant consequences for his career. Sonnen suggested O`Malley move up to Featherweight after the defeat for a potential fight against champion Alexander Volkanovski.
However, if he stays at 135 lbs, O`Malley`s next opponent could be #10-ranked Mario Bautista, following impressive recent wins over Jose Aldo and Patchy Mix.
Other suggestions include fights with Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong, although the American fighter will likely seek a third opportunity against the champion if he manages to defeat other top bantamweights in the division.
