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Sean O’Malley shuts down Ryan Garcia fight, eyes showdown with Floyd Mayweather: ‘He’s still kicking’

UFC bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley continues to show interest in boxing, this time targeting Floyd Mayweather. O’Malley is fresh…

UFC bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley continues to show interest in boxing, this time targeting Floyd Mayweather.

O’Malley is fresh off a phenomenal performance against Marlon Vera, dominating the entire 25-minute fight. After his first successful title reign, ‘Suga’ has never been a bigger name, the fights he can be involved in will only get bigger should he continue down this path.

O’Malley does not seem the keenest on setting a title defence record, however, calling out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria during his post-fight speech. O’Malley has also continued to call out high-level boxers in podcast and media appearances, claiming he could beat the likes of Ryan Garcia should the two square off.

The 29-year-old spoke on The MMA Hour regarding Garcia, who had mentioned the idea of transitioning to MMA. Garcia has also been posting bizarre videos and messages to social media over the past couple of weeks, it is unclear what exactly is going on with him.

“Again, I think mentally that kid isn’t where he needs to be.” Sean O’Malley began. “We’ll see how he looks against Devin Haney and go from there. I think that an MMA fight is so unrealistic, there’s a zero per cent chance he would ever even make it to that fight. It would take one MMA session, one wrestling day, one jiu-jitsu with anyone who knows anything for him to realize this is a bad idea.”

Sean O’Malley name drops Floyd Mayweather

O’Malley would then suggest the idea of boxing Mayweather, who has continued to do regular exhibition contests up until June of last year.

“If anything happened it would be boxing I mean, I don’t even know if I want to build up with that kind of fight given where his head is now,” O’Malley continued. “You know, just because it would be massive. It might not be it, but there’s still big fights up there still. Floyd’s still kicking, Floyd’s still running around in the boxing room.”

“I keep doing what I’m doing, I might just skip Ryan. I might just skip Gervonta [Davis].” Sean O’Malley concluded on The MMA Hour. “Go straight for the big dog.”

Who wins right now in boxing, Sean O’Malley or Floyd Mayweather?

Michael Venom Page shuts down ‘Terrible’ fight with Stephen Thompson after UFC 299: ‘I could be wrong’

UFC welterweight Michael Venom Page envisions a ‘boring’ fight against Stephen Thompson should the pair meet in the future. …

UFC welterweight Michael Venom Page envisions a ‘boring’ fight against Stephen Thompson should the pair meet in the future.

Page enjoyed a successful UFC debut last Saturday, convincingly outstriking Kevin Holland over three rounds. Holland refused to stay down despite being stunned throughout the contest after being on the receiving end of some flashy, but vicious strikes from Page.

Michael 'Venom' Page wins Octagon debut in entertaining fight with Kevin Holland - UFC 299 Highlights

Throughout his time in MMA Page has always been a showman, using his karate stance the 36-year-old often likes to throw big shots from the outside, leaping in with jumping knees and other explosive strikes. Page now finds himself in a great to position to push for some big fights at 170lbs given his recent performance and relative name value.

Michael Venom Page unsure of Stephen Thompson fight

Fans have called for Page to step in with fellow striker Stephen Thompson, who is similarly ranked and shares a similar style. However, Page explained that because of their similarity, it would equate to a boring fight.

Michael Venom Page UFC 299 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

“It’s weird because obviously, I’ve been hearing for years before I even got to the UFC and I always tell people the same thing, two positives don’t always make a positive” Michael Venom Page said during an interview with Sportsnet after UFC 299.

1-on-1 with Michael "Venom" Page following his successful UFC debut.

For more UFC 299 coverage, visit https://t.co/SIVYBRx35l pic.twitter.com/f3GBnFBqjn

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 10, 2024

“What will be a great fight for me and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, will look like a terrible fight for everyone else because we’ll go back into auto-pilot of our point-scoring system and there’s a lot of battles that happen without anything really happening.” Page added.

Stephen Thompson hopes to be back paid for UFC 296 fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“As soon as I’m about to throw that punch, I can sense that he’s got that counter ready and I might break away,”Page continued. “So, there’s going to be a lot of not much happening in my opinion. I could also be wrong and it could be an amazing fight but from my experience fighting high-level points fighters, it slows everything down.”

Who do you think Michael Venom Page should face next?

Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera promises to bounce back following brutal UFC 299 loss: ‘The belt will be mine one day’

Carrying a ton of confidence from being the first and only fighter to hand bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley a…

Carrying a ton of confidence from being the first and only fighter to hand bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley a loss in his MMA career, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera was dealt a hard dose of reality during Saturday’s headliner in Miami, Florida.

From the opening bell, O’Malley was in complete control of their long-awaited rematch, using his speed and skill to bust up the Ecuadorian for a full 25 minutes. Vera undeniably proved his toughness, taking everything ‘Sugar’ had, and even folded the defending champ with a vicious body blow in the closing seconds of their UFC 299 headliner — a moral victory, but one that ultimately left him going home without the gold.

Still, ‘Chito’ has plenty of reason to hold his head high and is already looking ahead to a future trilogy fight with O’Malley.

“I dream about last night my whole life and fell short at the end of the day,” he wrote on Instagram. “I will be back. Thanks to my family and team for being by my side. The love of Ecuador was felt more than ever, thank you for supporting me that way I will come back stronger, the belt will be mine one day.”

As for what could be next for Vera, a fight with former titleholder Petr Yan certainly makes a lot of sense. ‘No Mercy’ returned to the win column in the main card opener, delivering a solid performance against rising contender Song Yadong. It was Yan’s first win since suffering three-straight losses against Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley, and Merab Dvalishvili.

Immediately following the UFC 299 main event, Yan called for a fight with ‘Chito’ before hoping to secure his own rematch with Sean O’Malley.

Sean O’Malley Unlikely to Get Ilia Topuria Fight following win over ‘Chito’ Vera

Sean O’Malley will likely put his title on the line against Merab Dvalishvili when he returns to the Octagon later this year. In February, ‘The Machine’ earned a decisive decision victory over Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, securing his spot at the top of the stacked 135-pound division.

Despite there being a clear-cut contender to deal with, O’Malley expressed interest in going up a weight class to challenge newly minted featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria during his post-fight interview inside the Kaseya Center. As exciting as that fight sounds, UFC CEO Dana White is unlikely to grant his wish considering ‘Sugar’ just bagged his first successful defense while Topuria is yet to book his first fight as a defending champion.

Dustin Poirier previews future title fight with Islam Makhachev: ‘Maybe I’ll submit him with a guillotine’

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has once again campaigned for a title fight with undisputed divisional gold holder,…

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has once again campaigned for a title fight with undisputed divisional gold holder, Islam Makhachev – after receiving an offer to fight the Russian as soon as June, off the back of his knockout win over Benoit Saint-Denis over the weekend at UFC 299.

Poirier, the current number three ranked lightweight contender, co-headlined UFC 299 over the course of the weekend in Miami, turning back the surging Nimes native, Saint-Denis with a huge second round KO – after battling through massive adversity throughout the opening round.

Fighting off numerous submission attempts from the streaking French prospect, Poirier managed to wobble and bring Saint-Denis to one knee with a cleverly-placed uppercut in close, before then cannoning off a huge right hook counter, knocking out the Frenchman in front of a raucous crowd at the Kaseya Center.

Dustin Poirier UFC 299 2 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

And receiving an outright offer from Dominance MMA leader, Ali Abdelaziz to fight his client, Makhachev in an undisputed lightweight title fight as soon as June – Poirier himself then called out the pound-for-pound kingpin for a summer title showdown.

Dustin Poirier previews Islam Makahchev title fight

Receiving backing from promotional CEO, Dana White, who claimed the Lafayette native’s stardom reached a new level off the back of his win over Saint-Denis, which he described as “legendary”, Poirier claimed he may line up an almost patented guillotine choke attempt on the Russian should they meet next.

“I’ll never stop jumping guillotines either,” Dustin Poirier told MMA Fighting. “But, he (Benoit Saint-Denis) never took me down neither. I took myself down like five times.”

“I don’t know, I need to stop [attempting guillotine chokes], but I will never,” Dustin Poirier said defiantly. “Yeah, I hit it a lot [during training], I hit it a lot, I put people unconscious – never in a fight though. Maybe I’ll submit Islam (Makhachev) with it.”

Islam Makhachev set to fight twice this year ahead of expected UFC return — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

Himself sidelined since October of last year, Makhachev most recently headlined UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – landing a blistering first round high-kick knockout win over former undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s rematch.

Can Dustin Poirier end the title run of the dominant Islam Makhachev?

Dustin Poirier rekindles rivalry with Conor McGregor after UFC 299 win: ‘He felt that right hook, too’

Dustin Poirier has responded to Conor McGregor’s reaction to his UFC 299 knockout of Benoit Saint-Denis. Poirier entered his…

Dustin Poirier has responded to Conor McGregor’s reaction to his UFC 299 knockout of Benoit Saint-Denis.

Poirier entered his five-round UFC 299 co-main event fight against Saint-Denis as the betting underdog and many were writing him off after his KO loss to Justin Gaethje last July.

In the first round, Saint-Denis had success and to begin the second round, he got Poirier down and had his back to begin the round. Yet, Poirier was able to get back to his feet and landed a nice uppercut and then a right hook to KO Saint-Denis.

Dustin Poirier lands stunning KO win over Benoit Saint Denis in rsllying performance UFC 299 Highlights — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

After Poirier’s win, his rival McGregor took to social media to give congratulations to both ‘The Diamond’ and Saint-Denis.

“Great fight out of them French boys tonight! Toutes nos felicitations @DustinPoirier @BenoitSt_Denis @EmmanuelMacron,” McGregor wrote on X.

Dustin Poirier pokes fun at three-fight foe, Conor McGregor

After his win, Dustin Poirier was asked about Conor McGregor’s comments and he issued a short response”

“Yeah? Well, he felt that right hook too,” Poirier said at the UFC 299 post-fight press conference.

Of course, Poirier knocked McGregor out in the second round back in 2021 with the right hook.

Despite Poirier winning two straight fights against Conor McGregor, including knocking him out, they still have a rivalry with one another. So, perhaps the two fight for a fourth time in the future as the trilogy ended with the Irishman breaking his leg, but for now ‘The Diamond’ is focused on the lightweight title.

“That’s the only reason I’m fighting,” Poirier said. “I started fighting to be the world champion, to be the best in the world, undisputed. We have to see. I have to get home, talk to my coaches, my wife, and my management, and we’ll see what’s next. I don’t know. But yes, I’ve done a lot in this sport. I’m not trying to brag, but I’ve done a lot in this sport. I’ve been fighting for a long time. I think this was around my 50th MMA fight, and I’ve done a lot, checked a lot of boxes. But there’s still one box unchecked, and that’s being a world champion.”

Dustin Poirier offered title fight with Islam Makhachev in June after UFC 299 win — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

With the win over Saint-Denis, Poirier is now 30-8 with one ‘No Contest‘ as a pro and is 2-2 in his last four.

Do you think we ever see Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor 4?

Sean O’Malley told to forget Ilia Topuria fight after UFC 299 win by Dana White: ‘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…

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?