UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley defeated Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at their UFC 299 clash to avenge the only loss in his career. O’Malley looked better than ever with his world-class striking and sniping ability being too much for the Ecuadorian who proved his extreme durability in the fight despite absorbing some serious strikes including a sickening flying knee that connected flush with his chin.

Nevertheless, not many were expecting Vera to beat the champion in their rematch. The reason for ‘Suga’s loss in their first fight was a freak injury that disabled his right leg. In addition, O’Malley had improved significantly since their first UFC 252 clash and the same could not be said of ‘Chito’. Now, he is faced with a bevy of dangerous title contenders such as #1 ranked Merab Dvalishvili, and former champions Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan. However, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has warned O’Malley that there is another strong contender on the horizon.

Islam Makhachev feels Umar Nurmagomedov will challenge for the title soon

Islam Makhachev was asked in a recent interview about the title picture in the bantamweight division. While the Dagestani felt that there were some good potential contenders in the division, one name was conspicuous by its absence: his friend and former mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s cousin and his teammate, Umar Nurmagomedov.

Umar, ranked #10 in the 145-pound division, with an undefeated record, and bearing the last name of perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist of all time is seen by many as being in a position to contend for the bantamweight title soon. The interviewer picked up on this and asked Makhachev “Sean O’Malley also has Umar [Nurmagomedov] (as a potential title challenger soon), right? Umar is coming soon for that belt?” he said.

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The lightweight champion agreed and said that his fellow AKA teammate would be a real threat soon. “Umar coming very soon, believe me, he is coming very soon. You know this guy have some injury… You know, hard way to be a champion (while dealing with injuries). Like always our team have some problem with the opponent. Like Khabib and myself and now it is Umar. But this guy is coming soon, definitely,” Makhachev said.

Although Umar is undefeated and has won all five of his opponents in the UFC, he still seems some ways from a title shot as he is yet to be tested. None of the Dagestani’s opponents have been top-ranked guys and the Dagestani is yet to face a top contender in the division. However, Umar seems determined to change that and has floated a recent matchup that would catapult him into the title picture.

Umar wants Yan or Sandhagen in August

Sean O’Malley’s next opponent is most likely to be Merab Dvalishvili, who became the number one title contender after defeating Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 last month.’The Machine’, with his world-class wrestling, is a stylistic nightmare for ‘Suga’. Aljamain Sterling, who lost his title to ‘Suga’ at UFC 293, and a resurgent Petr Yan, who lost a controversial split decision to O’Malley two years ago, as well as #3 ranked Cory Sandhagen are in the title mix and will probably fight each other in the near future to determine the next challenger for the lightweight crown.

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Umar Nurmagomedov has thrown his name in the hat, too. After UFC 299, which saw Yan defeat #7 ranked Song Yadong to reclaim his place at the top of the division, Umar congratulated his fellow Russian in a tweet. This was followed by another tweet that floated a potential August clash against #3 ranked Cory Sandhagen or Petr Yan.

“My congratulations Peter, a good working victory. August 3 Me against Peter or me against Cory,” he tweeted. This seems like the ideal matchup for the 28-year-old who, even if he loses, will have plenty of time to make another push for the title. However, given that he has yet to face a top-10 ranked opponent, he will have to face at least one of them to prove he is good enough to fight the top-most guys. Do you think Umar should fight Yan or Sandhagen in August?

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