Sean O’Malley has a troublesome highway forward of him after shedding to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316.
Final weekend, the previous UFC Bantamweight Champion suffered back-to-back losses for the primary time in his combating profession.
Following his title loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 final September, Sean O’Malley was given a direct title rematch in his return 8 months later.
O’Malley went 0-2 in opposition to Dvalishvili in the principle occasion of UFC 316, the place the gifted striker misplaced by third-round submission.
With two losses to the present champion, there’s no telling what the long run holds for O’Malley within the bantamweight division or possibly the featherweight division as Chael Sonnen has suggested.
Regardless of the case could also be, certainly one of O’Malley former foes doesn’t assume the UFC will do ‘Suga’ any favors in his subsequent combat.
- READ MORE: What’s next for Sean O’Malley? Three potential opponents he could face after UFC 316 loss
Aljamain Sterling says Sean O’Malley has to combat ‘the hardest guys at this level’
O’Malley was typically criticized for the extent of competitors he fought throughout his run to the title.
Earlier than he decisioned Petr Yan and dethroned then bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, O’Malley battered a number of unranked fighters like Eddie Wineland, Jose Quiñonez and a debuting Kris Moutinho.
Ranked #1 on this planet, Sterling says it’s solely troublesome fights from right here for his former rival.
“The UFC might be not gonna do him one other layup [or] favor when it comes to stylistic matchup,” Sterling mentioned of O’Malley on his YouTube channel.
“He’s gonna need to combat the hardest guys at this level…
“Lots of people notice he’s good, however for those who do ‘X, Y and Z’ like Mario Bautista, these are powerful fights for you,” Sterling added.
“Kyler Phillips, these are powerful fights for you. Merab, Umar [Nurmagomedov], these are powerful fights.
“Even a Petr Yan, who’s a bit bit extra stationary. However as soon as he will get shifting and begins placing these palms on you, it’s a more durable combat for him.”
Aljamain Sterling on Sean O’Malley’s subsequent combat: ‘Give him Music Yadong’
At bantamweight, arguably probably the most stacked division within the UFC, Sterling admits there are just a few good stylistic matchups for a striker of O’Malley’s caliber.
Sterling likes O’Malley’s possibilities in opposition to Patchy Mix after seeing the Bellator champion get outboxed by Mario Bautista at UFC 316.
“The one particular person I can consider stylistically which might be a comparatively favorable combat for him could be a man like Patchy Combine,” Sterling continued.
“Perhaps Aiemann Zahabi,” Sterling mentioned of the #11-ranked contender who simply beat Jose Aldo at UFC 315.
“Aiemann’s kinda simply within the pocket with you.
“These could be some good stylistic fights for him.”
When discussing a good matchup for O’Malley, Sterling in the end landed on #5-ranked contender Song Yadong, a striker at coronary heart.
“Give him Music Yadong,” Sterling mentioned of who O’Malley might combat subsequent.
