3 opponent options for “Suga’s” return, including Cory Sandhagen

The next Sean O'Malley fight news should arrive before the end of the year. Until then, we look at three possible opponents for the former bantamweight king and recap his frustrating loss in a title fight in September.

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Who will Sean O'Malley's next fight be against?

After avenging the only loss of his career at UFC 299, “Suga” suffered his second loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. Because this setback was so significant, an immediate rematch is unlikely, so fights against Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan or Henry Cejudo are the likely path the UFC is planning for O'Malley's next fight.

• Sandman: Fans have wanted to see a fight between O'Malley and Sandhagen for some time. It can easily be the main event of Fight Night and has the potential to be the fight of the year.
• Rematch: Yan and O'Malley had a fantastic and close fight, which “Suga” won two years ago. A rematch is certainly not a bad idea and could serve as a co-headliner for any PPV card.
• Triple C: Cejudo and O'Malley have been rivals for years and now could be the perfect time to capitalize on that hatred. A win for “Suga” could catapult him right back into a title shot.

Summary: Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili

Many feared that O'Malley would have serious problems against a non-stop fighting “wrestling machine” like Dvalishvili. These fears were confirmed at UFC 306, as O'Malley had no match for the Georgian's wrestling and superhuman endurance.

What happened: O'Malley was able to get back to his feet often against Dvalishvili, but so have many of his opponents. Dvalishvili's constant movement and takedown attempts are what win him fights, and that worked again against the American. But even when the former champion had moments to stand, he didn't take full advantage of them, and it wasn't until the final minutes of the fight that he did any serious damage to his opponent.

Also read: Latest UFC Bantamweight Rankings

The consequences: Because the loss was so final, O'Malley is not expected to receive the same treatment as other UFC champions and receive a rematch before the end of the year.

What's next? O'Malley will likely face a top-five opponent when he returns, and a win could easily give him a title shot next summer.

What makes Sean O'Malley so popular?

The Sugar Show: O'Malley became an instant star in the UFC because he's a cocky fighter who can almost always back up his brash claims. He has a fan-friendly fighting style and usually gives his fans what they want. Seeing fighters get physically disgraced and beaten to sleep by a destructive striker is a big part of his appeal.

• Record by Sean O'Malley: 18-2-1 NC (12 KOs, 1 submission)
• Sean O'Malley's last fight: Unanimous point loss against Merab Dvalishvili
• Wife of Sean O'Malley: The UFC star has an open marriage with Danya Gonzalez
• O'Malley has 18 career wins, 10 of which have come inside the fabled Octagon. He has a 77% win rate with 11 KOs and one submission win as he enters his ninth year as a professional fighter.
• “Sugar” has sent nine of his opponents home in the first round, including Raulian Paiva, Alfred Khashakyan and UFC and WEC star Eddie Wineland.
• His only loss in the promotion came against Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 252 in August 2020. Although the win is listed as a technical knockout, O'Malley suffered a bizarre injury from a kick from Vera, making the win a little different than typical TKO losses.

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The influencer: With his rainbow-colored hairstyle and tattoos adorning his body and face, O'Malley is a perfect fighter for the 18- to 32-year-old target audience of today's UFC fans. And that shows in his reach on social media platforms.

• Although he has only been with the organization for a few years, O'Malley already has millions of followers on his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
• “Sugar Sean” also has over 900,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.

Sean O'Malley's net worth

A boxer's success is measured in dollars and cents he earns in his career as a professional pugilist. O'Malley is still young, but his net worth is estimated to be as high as $2.2 million in 2024.

How tall is Sean O'Malley really?

The reigning king of the bantamweight division is actually unusually tall for his weight class, measuring an impressive 6'1″. That's the same height as many welterweights in the UFC.

What is Sean O'Malley's fighting style?

“Sugar” is a striking-first fighter. While he can grapple and has shown rock-solid takedown defense, he is a top-tier sharpshooter. His hands and feet have a counter-punching style similar to legends like Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya.

Does Sean O'Malley do Jiu-Jitsu?

Yes, like any other MMA fighter, Sean O'Malley works on all elements of his grappling, including his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is said to have a solid mat game that is very underrated since he so rarely has to use it.