
via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Opponents Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera of Ecuador face off during the UFC 252 weigh-in at UFC APEX on August 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: (L-R) Opponents Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera of Ecuador face off during the UFC 252 weigh-in at UFC APEX on August 14, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Sean O’Malley was last in the Octagon in August. And it wasn’t a fun night for Suga Sean. The rising fighter had the entire UFC hype machine behind him in what people assumed would be an easy win over Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. However, Vera instead decided to knock O’Malley out cold at the end of the first round.
While O’Malley and Vera have had a frosty relationship, Vera has also had another fight. He booked himself against Jose Aldo in the co-main event of the final UFC fight card of the year. However, he lost a decision to Aldo. Sean O’Malley revealed he was very impressed by Aldo and believed that he won the third round.
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“Jose looked good. Aldo looked good. I didn’t know who they were giving the fight to. I thought Aldo had done enough, but I really wasn’t sure. That last round kinda solidified it for sure.”
O’Malley praising Aldo for that performance is fair and isn’t a slight at ‘Chito’. However, now that he has lost a fight, would there be any interest in booking a rematch with Sean?
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Sean O’Malley: Whom does he fight next?
Him praising Aldo cannot be confused for a possible desire or ability to fight him. O’Malley is currently out of the Bantamweight rankings and is yet to bounce back from the loss to ‘Chito’ Vera. However, who else can he fight in this division right now?

via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 15: (L-R) Sean O’Malley kicks Marlon Vera of Ecuador in their bantamweight bout during the UFC 252 event at UFC APEX on August 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
There aren’t any meaningful matchups that you can make outside the rematch right now. Raphael Assuncao is already booked against Raoni Barcelos, and it would make no sense to pit O’Malley against another young gun in Merab Dvalishvili. So why shouldn’t the UFC bite the bullet and book the Vera rematch?
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While Vera and many hardcore fans may be upset at it, it is the easiest fight they can sell with O’Malley right now. But let’s see if they find him a more interesting matchup or give him this one.
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