Sean O’Malley told to forget Ilia Topuria fight after UFC 299 win by Dana White: ‘That’s crazy talk’

Sean O'Malley told to forget title fight with Ilia Topuria by Dana White after UFC 299 that's crazy talkUndisputed bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley’s quest for a featherweight title charge in the immediate aftermath of his dominant UFC…

Sean O'Malley told to forget title fight with Ilia Topuria by Dana White after UFC 299 that's crazy talk

Undisputed bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley’s quest for a featherweight title charge in the immediate aftermath of his dominant UFC 299 win over the weekend have been knocked back by promotional CEO, Dana White, who claims talk of a fight against newly-minted kingpin, Ilia Topuria is simply “crazy”.

O’Malley, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, headlined UFC 299 in his return to the Octagon over the course of last weekend in Miami, turning in a blistering rematch with over title challenger, Marlon Vera – avenging his sole career defeat in a lopsided unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) victory over the Ecuadorian.

Sean O'Malley batters Chito Vera in dominant title fight rematch win at UFC 299 Highlights
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

Bloodying and battering the Chone native over the course of five one-sided rounds, Montana native, Sean O’Malley had been linked with a turnaround against streaking top-contender, Merab Dvalishvili in his next outing after UFC 299, however, immediately switched focus to a charge against Topuria.

Sean O’Malley denied title charge against Ilia Topuria by Dana White

Urging the promotion to get him on a flight to Spain – amid calls from Topuria for a first championship outing in his residency, O’Malley has been told to hold his proverbial horses by White, who claimed calls for a charge at 145 pounds was “crazy”.

“I don’t know about moving divisions, you know how I feel about that,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 299. “I mean, even (Ilia) Topuria was talking about not fighting anybody in the division after just winning the title, that’s crazy talk.” 

Furthermore, off the back of O’Malley’s call out issued to him, Topuria instructed the Dana White’s Contender Series product to defend his bantamweight championship against the above-mentioned, Dvalishvili first and foremost

Ilia Topuria opens as betting favorite to beat Alexander Volkanovski in rematch after UFC 298
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself seizing the featherweight crown just last month, German-born star, Topuria turned in a blistering second round KO win over dominant champion, Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s title outing atop UFC 298 in Anaheim.

Who wins in a future title clash: Ilia Topuria or Sean O’Malley?

Dana White refuses to book Conor McGregor – Nate Diaz 3 at Las Vegas Sphere: ‘I’m not doing that fight’

Dana White refuses to book Conor McGregor - Nate Diaz 3 at Las Vegas Sphere I'm not doing that fightPromotional CEO, Dana White has no interest in booking a long-anticipated trilogy rubber match between former two-weight champion, Conor…

Dana White refuses to book Conor McGregor - Nate Diaz 3 at Las Vegas Sphere I'm not doing that fight

Promotional CEO, Dana White has no interest in booking a long-anticipated trilogy rubber match between former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz later this year at UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere – despite both fan-favorites expressing their interest in competing on the card.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula back in 2021 against last night’s big winner, Dustin Poirier, in the pair’s heated trilogy rubber match.

And linked with a comeback fight against Conor McGregor in a potential return to the UFC, Stockton veteran, Diaz finished his contractual obligations back in 2022 with a stunning fourth round guillotine choke win over former interim champion, Tony Ferguson.

Nate Diaz alleged to have turned down hush money from UFC failed drug test 2019
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari – Zuffa LLC

Staking his claim for a headlining slot at UFC 303 during International Fight Week at the end of June, McGregor urged organizational Chief Business Officer, Hunter Campbell to finally nail down a return for him against The Ultimate Fighter 31 rival, Michael Chandler.

Furthermore, the Dubliner announced plans to fight the aforenoted, Diaz during Mexican Independence Day weekend in September – in a stunning UFC 306 event at the monumental Las Vegas Sphere, to much fan appeal.

Dana White vetos Conor McGregor – Nate Diaz 3 at The Sphere

However, touching on the subject of booking a trilogy fight between McGregor and Diaz at that card in September, promotional boss, White immediately shut down a third fight between the two at UFC 306.

Diaz

“I’m looking for Mexican’s (fighters) at the [Las Vegas] Sphere, on Mexican Independence Day,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 299 last night. “Oh, okay – yeah, no. I’m not doing that fight.” 

Attending last night’s massive UFC 299 event in Miami, Diaz turned watched on as the above-mentioned Poirier rallied to stop Benoit Saint-Denis with a brutal win – before Sean O’Malley successfully defended his title with a one-sided shutout win over title challenger, Marlon Vera in the pair’s title re-run.

Do you expect Conor McGregor to fight Nate Diaz again?

Dana White Rips Ex-UFC Star Francis Ngannou After Knockout in Anthony Joshua Fight

Following Francis Ngannou’s brutal knockout loss against Anthony Joshua on Friday, his former boss couldn’t help but take a shot at him. “I saw it on social…

Following Francis Ngannou’s brutal knockout loss against Anthony Joshua on Friday, his former boss couldn’t help but take a shot at him. “I saw it on social…

Dana White reacts to Francis Ngannou’s KO loss: ‘If Tyson Fury trained, that fight would’ve ended, too’

Dana White reacts to Francis Ngannou's KO loss if Tyson Fury trained he would've ended that fight tooReacting to former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou’s stunning knockout loss to boxing star, Anthony Joshua over the weekend,…

Dana White reacts to Francis Ngannou's KO loss if Tyson Fury trained he would've ended that fight too

Reacting to former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou’s stunning knockout loss to boxing star, Anthony Joshua over the weekend, promotional boss, Dana White has claimed if WBC heavyweight kingpin, Tyson Fury actually trained for his fight with the Cameroonian last August – the result would have been a mirror-image.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the promotion’s banner, departed the White-led organization at the beginning of last year following the completion of his contractual obligations, in less than ceremonious circumstances.

Dana White calls Francis Ngannou fight unbelievable Tyson Fury it was crazy
Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

And since signing with the Peter Murray-led PFL since his departure from the UFC, Ngannou has made his way to two high-profile heavyweight boxing matches – the first of which in a controversial loss to the aforenoted, Fury last summer.

However, in Riyadh earlier this weekend, Ngannou suffered his first knockout loss in combat sports, with ex-two-time world heavyweight champion, Joshua turning in a blistering and punishing one-punch knockout in Saudi Arabia in the pair’s showdown. 

Fighters react to Anthony Joshua's KO win over Francis Ngannou stop coming to boxing it will only get worse
Mandatory Credit: Richard Pelham

Dana White shares thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s loss

And sharing his thoughts on Ngannou’s defeat – in which the Batié native claimed he had let his entire fanbase down, White expressed his dislike for crossover boxing matches – before claiming Ngannou would have suffered a similar fate if he fought a primed and prepped Fury last year.

“I mean, I saw it [Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou] on social media,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 299. “…Yeah, I mean, going into the (Tyson) Fury fight – if Fury trained for the fight and didn’t show up like, you know, look like he ate Tyson Fury, it’s probably the way that fight would’ve ended, too.”

“Listen, you know how I feel about the crossovers into boxing,” Dana White continued. “That’s how they end – just like that.” 

Expected to make his first outing in the PFL SmartCage later this year off the back of his knockout defeat to Watford native, Joshua – Ngannou will likely be matched against recent superfight winner, Renan Ferreira, who is fresh from a stunning knockout win over Ryan Bader earlier this month.

What’s next for Francis Ngannou after his KO defeat to Anthony Joshua?

UFC CEO Dana White is not thrilled about the boxing fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on July 20

Dana WhiteUFC CEO Dana White is not particularly thrilled with Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring this summer. Earlier…

Dana White

UFC CEO Dana White is not particularly thrilled with Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring this summer.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the legendary pugilist would step back inside the squared circle for a showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at a blockbuster event inside AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys — on July 20.

Dana White comments on Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

By the time fight night rolls around, Tyson will be 58 years old, more than 30 years older than his opponent.

Asked for his thoughts on the news during the UFC 299 post-fight press event, White was reluctant to slam the matchmaking, taking his friendship with Tyson into consideration, but made it abundantly clear that he did not approve.

“He gets mad when I do this, but Mike is [57], man,” White said. “I love Mike Tyson personally, as a friend. He’s one of my favorite athletes of all time. Let’s see if he can go in there and put together a training camp, but I don’t like to see the guy fighting. There’s a 31-year age difference in that fight. You guys know what I think of that stuff.”

Dana White comments on Paul vs. Tyson airing live on Netflix this summer

In another interesting twist, the fight will take place on Netflix, becoming the streaming giant’s first foray into live combat sports.

“I think that Netflix should have gotten into live sports years ago,” White added. “I think they are late to the game, but they are a force, and when you look at the amount of homes that they’re in worldwide… You guys heard me talk about the show Reacher. I posted about it. I love that show. I hate TV. I don’t watch any f*cking TV show hardly ever. Don’t watch movies anymore, but I love the show Reach, right? I can watch Reacher whenever I want to. I can watch it when I get home. I can watch it next week.

“Live sports like [UFC 299] you have to watch tonight. As all these massive streaming companies start to get bigger and bigger, they have to be involved in live sports.”

In January, it was announced that World Wrestling Entertainment would move its flagship show — Monday Night Raw — to Netflix in a blockbuster deal starting in 2025. It will be the first time the show airs exclusively on a streaming platform since debuting in 1993.

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The UFC and ESPN will head to the negotiating table to discuss a new broadcast rights deal in the near future. The promotion inked a lucrative seven-year agreement with the leader in sports in 2018 that was reportedly worth more than $1.5 billion.

With that deal set to expire next year, the UFC is planning to sit down with ESPN before fielding offers from other networks and streaming services looking to add the Las Vegas-based organization to their library.

Negotiations will be handled by the UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings which is led by CEO Ari Emanuel.

Dana White urged to pay ‘Whatever it costs’ to land UFC return for Conor McGregor this year

Dana White told to pay whatever it costs to make Conor McGregor return to the UFC Eddie HearnMatchroom Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn has some advice for UFC CEO, Dana White – in the form of luring…

Dana White told to pay whatever it costs to make Conor McGregor return to the UFC Eddie Hearn

Matchroom Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn has some advice for UFC CEO, Dana White – in the form of luring former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor back to the Octagon later this year, by paying the Dubliner “whatever it costs” to compete again.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight titleholder under the promotion’s banner, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier back in 2021.

And linked with a comeback since the beginning of last year, McGregor, who served as an opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31 against Michael Chandler, has been backed to fight the former Bellator MMA lightweight kingpin in his return.

Appearing destined to be denied a summer comeback to the UFC by promotional leader, White, McGregor has stressed his desire to make a return time and time again in recent months – however, apparently to no avail.

Dana White urged to cough up for Conor McGregor comeback

And as far as the above-mentioned British promoter, Hearn is concerned, McGregor should be paid “whatever it costs” by White in order to bag his fighting return this year inside the Octagon.

“If it was me – and it’s not me, and Dana (White) certainly doesn’t need my advice – but I’m brining (Conor) McGregor back, whatever it costs,” Eddie Hearn told MMA Fighting. “He injects an enthusiasm and a vibrancy into the UFC that no one else can. There is no one in the sport who can make it happen for the UFC and MMA like Conor McGregor.” 

“When he comes back, the press conferences, the build up, the value of the business, the ratings, the pay-per-view numbers [all increase],” Hearn explained. 

Without a victory since 2020, McGregor’s most recent win came in the form of a first round high-kick and strikes knockout win over Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone inside just 40-seconds at the welterweight limit.

Do you think Conor McGregor makes his comeback later this year?