Sean O’Malley is being hailed as the UFC’s rising star, poised to elevate the organization to new heights akin to Conor McGregor’s impact. Given his recent victory over long-standing bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, “Suga” has solidified this belief held by UFC President Dana White. Now, with the championship under his belt, O’Malley is preparing for his inaugural title defense at UFC 297 against the fighter responsible for his sole career defeat, Chito Vera. Let’s delve into the specifics.
Sean O’Malley and Chito Vera could potentially headline at UFC 297
At UFC 292 in Boston, Sean O’Malley showcased his impeccable right hand that sent Sterling crashing down, leaving the crowd in awe. This impressive victory crowned him the new division champion, silencing any doubters.
During the press conference, O’Malley also inquired about “Chito” Vera’s fight, coincidentally also on the same event. Upon hearing of Vera’s win, O’Malley playfully mentioned that even though Vera’s match might not have been thrilling, he confidently stated he would defeat him in December at the T-Mobile Arena.
While we won’t witness his fight this year, O’Malley is gearing up for a significant match at the start of 2024, headlining UFC 297. According to a post circulating by MMA Uncensored, the rematch for the bantamweight title between O’Malley and Chito Vera is being aimed for early next year in Toronto.
For those unfamiliar, during UFC 252 on August 15 in Las Vegas, Vera achieved his first professional victory of the year with a first-round knockout against O’Malley. It was revealed that Vera had inflicted a powerful leg kick on the rising star, O’Malley, before the fight, causing significant difficulty for Suga to stand upright, let alone compete. Ultimately, this led to his defeat.
Stories On UFC You Must Read:
- Heavyweight Star Advocates Retirement for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic After UFC 295
- Islam Makhachev Aiming For Welterweight Division After UFC 294
Now, after securing the title, his first target in the call-out was Vera, for obvious reasons—he’s hungry for revenge. Recent news suggests that we might witness the rematch between these two, possibly set for the first event of the new year.
Editors pick
