Sean O’Malley might be taking on a former champ in the future.
Sean O’Malley has gotten back-to-back wins since suffering the first loss of his pro career. That defeat came at the hands (and elbows) of Marlon Vera last year. Since then ‘Suga’ has beaten both Thomas Almeida and Kris Moutinho.
Recently O’Malley revealed that he was looking for winnable fights with unranked fighters for the remainder of his contract, which pays him the same rate whether he fights Louis Smolka or Petr Yan.
However, it seems the UFC might have other ideas. On substack, with his Helwani Nose, account, Ariel Helwani just revealed that the promotion is hoping O’Malley takes on a ranked bantamweight/former lightweight champion.
“UFC wants to book Sean O’Malley versus Frankie Edgar next. Maybe even for the MSG show on Nov. 6. TBD on if it will happen.”
After losing the UFC lightweight title in 2012 Edgar dropped down to featherweight and unsuccessfully challenged then-champion Jose Aldo for that division’s title. After a run of wins in 2014 and 2015 Edgar lost to Aldo again, this time for the interim UFC featherweight title.
Edgar continued on at 145 lbs for several years, beating Jeremy Stephens, Yair Rodriguez and Cub Swanson. In 2018 he suffered a brutal KO to Brian Ortega. A year later he lost to Max Holloway for the title and was then TKO’d by Chan Sung Jung.
Last August he debuted in the bantamweight division with a split decision win over Pedro Munhoz. In February Edgar was on the wrong side of a highlight reel flying knee KO to Cory Sandhagen. He’s currently ranked number eight in the division.