“When he is not the champ,” Sean O’Malley wouldn’t move up to featherweight when Alexander Volkanovski is the champion

Sean O'Malley just recently became bantamweight champion. Here is what he said about fighting Alexander Volkanovski.

“When he is not the champ,” Sean O’Malley wouldn’t move up to featherweight when Alexander Volkanovski is the champion

Sean O'Malley talks about fighting Alexander Volkanovski ( Image via Imago )

Fresh off his remarkable victory over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, Sean O’Malley has set his sights on the featherweight division. However, there’s a catch. He would prefer to make the move when Alexander Volkanovski isn’t the reigning champion.

Alexander Volkanovski, with a professional record of 26 wins and two losses, ranks as the UFC’s #2 pound-for-pound fighter. He has successfully defended his featherweight title five times. Volkanovski recently beat Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 via TKO. When asked about the possibility of moving up to 145 pounds, O’Malley responded affirmatively. He acknowledged Volkanovski’s status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. “I would love to when Alexander Volkanovski is not the champ,” O’Malley said. However, he is equally self-assured in his abilities.

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O’Malley quickly emphasized that he could knock out anyone, even Volkanovski. However, he conceded that it would be a significant challenge. He envisioned the potential for a super fight down the line. However, Sean O’Malley speculated that Volkanovski may eventually decide to move up to the lightweight division.

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Matchups and circumstances change in the blink of an eye in the UFC. O’Malley’s aspirations in the featherweight division will hinge on Volkanovski’s future decisions. The prospect of these two incredible fighters crossing paths is an enticing storyline for fight enthusiasts. Only time will tell if two of the best in the UFC roster will ever engage in a showdown in the UFC octagon.

Related: “He’ll be gone,” Raul Rosas Jr. predicts Sean O’Malley’s championship reign to vanish before he claims contender status

Aljamain Sterling might not receive an immediate rematch against Sean O’Malley

Aljamain Sterling has set his sights firmly on a chance for redemption against Sean O’Malley. Just a month after suffering the loss to ‘Sugar,’ Sterling hinted at his next steps in the octagon. Before his bout with O’Malley, Sterling had openly contemplated a move to the featherweight division, eyeing a potential showdown with Alexander Volkanovski.

Aljamain Sterling Sean O'Malley
Sean O’Malley defeated Aljamain Sterling to become the new Bantamweight Champion ( Image source: Twitter )

However, his knockout loss temporarily shelved those aspirations, leading him to call for a rematch with Suga. Meanwhile, Sean O’Malley is eyeing Marlon Vera for his first title defense instead. Sterling recently revealed in The MMA Hour that he would contemplate a move to the 145-pound division if the rematch remained elusive.

After an incredible title reign, Aljamain Sterling’s future within the UFC now remains uncertain. However, his unwavering determination to secure a rematch with Sean O’Malley remained commendable.

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