Sean O'Malley at UFC 316, with mystery inset. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Sean O’Malley names top contender he asked UFC to fight in short notice co-main event

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated Aug 1, 2025 9:09 PM ET

Sean O’Malley wants to return sooner rather than later after losing to UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili.

The former UFC Bantamweight Champion nicknamed ‘Suga’ finds himself in a strange spot following back-to-back title fight losses to Dvalishvili.

Dvalishvili dethroned O’Malley by decision at UFC 306 last September, outdoing his performance in their UFC 316 rematch with a third-round submission to retain his title.

The UFC Bantamweight division moves on from O’Malley, on to another striker in Cory Sandhagen, who is set to face Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 320.

O’Malley says he recently asked the UFC if he could fight in a different co-main event slot, but to no avail.

Sean O’Malley asked UFC for Cory Sandhagen fight

Speaking on the Overdogs Podcast with Mike Perry, O’Malley revealed he requested next title challenger Sandhagen for his comeback fight at UFC 318 or potentially UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in Chicago.

This was prior to the announcement that Sandhagen would be fighting Dvalishvili for the title.

“I was actually trying to fight Cory when the co-main event fell out for that Max and Dustin fight,” O’Malley said.

O’Malley could be referring to UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev instead as the co-main event slot was recently filled by Aaron Pico vs. Lerone Murphy, and the event is weeks away.

“I threw my name out there the other day,” O’Malley said of trying to fight Sandhagen before he got booked for a title fight.

“I was like… three weeks, me vs. Cory would be sweet, but it didn’t really make sense for the UFC,” O’Malley said.

“Cory vs. Merab is the next fight to make. But, yeah, me vs. Cory is a very interesting fight. That’s one that’s bound to happen, sooner than later probably…”

Sean O’Malley ‘wouldn’t say no’ to another immediate title shot

O’Malley was a striking matchup that Sandhagen had long pushed for.

Sandhagen never got the chance to fight O’Malley when he was champion, despite beating Chito Vera, who fought O’Malley in his first title defense at UFC 299.

‘Suga’ being one of the biggest stars in the promotion, O’Malley was granted an immediate title fight upon his return against Dvalishvili at UFC 316, going 0-2 in their rematch.

O’Malley was asked what he would do if the UFC offered him Sandhagen, with a title win over Dvalishvili at UFC 320.

“Wouldn’t say no,” O’Malley answered.

“If they say, Cory beat Merab, you’re fighting Cory for the title… I’d feel a little weird coming off two losses to fight for the title again,” O’Malley admitted.

“But I’m not gonna say no to the title fight, especially against Cory.”

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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