Sean O`Malley expressed difficulty in choosing a winner between the two fighters slated for the co-main event at UFC 320, a bantamweight championship bout. O`Malley, a former titleholder himself, will closely watch the upcoming pay-per-view event at Las Vegas` T-Mobile Arena this Saturday, where Merab Dvalishvili is set to defend his championship.
Following his victories over ‘Suga’ and Umar Nurmagomedov after claiming the title, Dvalishvili`s next opponent is Cory Sandhagen. Many observers believe Sandhagen`s diverse skill set will present a significant challenge for ‘The Machine’. O`Malley himself admits to the challenge of predicting a victor. Despite his personal experience with Dvalishvili`s formidable abilities, the former champion ultimately regards ‘The Sandman’ as possessing greater overall skill.
Sean O`Malley: Cory Sandhagen Possesses Superior Overall Skills Compared to Merab Dvalishvili
O`Malley harbors ambitions of reclaiming the bantamweight title, a path that might eventually require him to overcome either Sandhagen or Dvalishvili. Consequently, he plans to closely monitor their co-main event bout, scheduled for October 4th, having already offered his analysis of the matchup during an August interview on Mike Perry’s Overdogs Podcast.
‘Suga’ likened Dvalishvili`s dominant wrestling style to that of Khabib Nurmagomedov, yet asserted that Sandhagen, in his view, is the more comprehensively skilled athlete.
O`Malley commented, “Cory and I share very similar fighting styles. Cory demonstrated excellent defensive grappling against Umar, initiating scrambles and maintaining high hips when Umar attempted to take his back.”
He continued, “If Merab manages to secure a hold of Cory, I just don`t see… Merab`s strength is immense, and his endurance is simply incredible.”
O`Malley added, “While my gut might lean towards Merab, it`s genuinely difficult for me to dismiss Cory. I believe, in terms of pure skill, Cory is among the elite in the UFC. He possesses more diverse abilities than Merab.”
“However,” he clarified, “Merab`s specific skillset is exceptionally effective and dominant, bearing a striking resemblance to Khabib`s approach.”
Cory Sandhagen Responds Positively to Sean O`Malley`s White House Challenge
While O`Malley might find it challenging to secure another title shot as long as Dvalishvili holds the bantamweight championship, a win for Sandhagen at UFC 320 could potentially pave the way for such an opportunity.
Should Sandhagen claim the title, O`Malley has expressed a desire to face him at the White House in 2026. This ambitious early challenge was met with a favorable reaction from ‘The Sandman’ prior to his upcoming fight in Las Vegas.
Sandhagen told MMA Fighting, “Yes, without a doubt, O`Malley has been on my radar, and I`ve been on his for a considerable time. This time, however, I`ll be in the more advantageous position. For a long period, O`Malley was the bigger name, and I don`t believe he was particularly keen on discussing a fight with me.”
He continued, “But once you`re the champion, everyone wants to fight you. So, it will be enjoyable to be on the `A-side` of that discussion, rather than feeling like I`m pleading for a match against a star. I`ll be the star.”
Regarding the proposed White House event, Sandhagen added, “I mean, man, that`s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It feels like the Sphere, but amplified significantly. Everyone was excited about the Sphere, but this will elevate things to an entirely new level.”
