What’s Next For “Suga” Sean O’Malley And The BW Division

Sean O’Malley or “Suga” has surely taken his time on the rise through the ranks of the bantamweight division, 8-1-1 since joining the ufc (without counting his DWCS fight)

Most fighters with the success and stardom like Sean has, there usually on a fast track to a title shot.

For example in recent memory Alex Pereira was 3-0 in the ufc when he got his middleweight title shot.

Jiri Prochazka was 2-0 when he won his light heavyweight championship.

But Sean’s been open about what he wants to do, he wants the most money for the smallest risk. I mean I can’t blame the guy it’s brilliant business on his behalf and gave him the leverage when it came time to renegotiate his contract with the ufc

Now that he’s on that new contract fighting the top dogs and being the number 1 contender, what’s next?

The bantamweight division is in a weird but great spot right now, they have a championship who only is really willing to defend once a year (Aljamain Sterling) and it seems that’s not gonna be till June this year.

So if all goes as planned I think Sean’s rightfully so next up, but there’s a little dark Olympic cloud hanging over the division, being Henry Cejudo.

Not that I think he’s deserving, but he’s probably the only one that will get a shot before Sean, only due to fans wanting to see Henry back.

If that’s the route the ufc Tries to go I think there needs to be a interim title in place, to keep the division active.

Without a question O’Malley will be in that fight if he’s not already fighting for the title, but for arguments sake let’s just say aljo vs Henry is booked for the title, who do they put Sean against in a interim match.

I believe there only 2 real options right now.

• Marlon “CHITO” Vera
• Merab Dvalishvili

A rematch with chito is what everyone wants anyways so why not give it to them. Chito has a fight already booked against Cory Sandhagen February 18 at the ufc apex so the chances of that being suga’s next matchup are not high, sadly…

Merab has also been on a dominant rise in the division as well and has a resume to put a argument in that he deserves the next shot, but he’s the only one not advocating for it, because his best friend is aljo sterling the current champ. Merab also has nothing booked.

So with everyone being tied up within the top 5 besides Petr Yan, who Sean’s already beat in his last outing, I see the best matchup being Sean vs. Merab for a interim belt, have the winner of that fight fight the winner of aljo vs. Henry.