In what many UFC fans are calling a wildly optimistic assessment, Sean O’Malley’s podcast co-host has suggested the former bantamweight champion should face Umar Nurmagomedov following his recent title loss to Merab Dvalishvili.
During the latest episode of O’Malley’s podcast, his co-host made the surprising suggestion that Nurmagomedov would be an ideal opponent for O’Malley’s comeback fight.
“I think Umar is a perfect matchup,” the co-host stated confidently. “You’ve improved enough to where I think you’d be able to handle his grappling, and I think you would knock Umar out.”
The suggestion comes at a sensitive time for O’Malley, who recently surrendered his UFC bantamweight title to Dvalishvili at UFC 316 via submission in the third round. Many observers view the matchup proposal as particularly optimistic given that O’Malley’s grappling defense was exposed in his loss to Dvalishvili.
Nurmagomedov, currently ranked third in the division according to the podcast conversation, brings the same wrestling-heavy approach that gave O’Malley trouble. The undefeated Dagestani fighter carries the same family pedigree as his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, known for dominant grappling skills that have proven nearly impossible to counter.
O’Malley himself seemed less enthusiastic about immediately considering his next opponent, responding: “Umar’s super super… everybody in the top 10, top 15 is so skilled.”
The former champion appeared more focused on recovery than matchmaking, adding, “It’s nice to not think about a fight right now because I do want to just chill for a few weeks… even if UFC said, ‘Hey, we think we know what we’re going to do,’ I don’t even want to know right now. Just let me chill.”
Social media reactions to the podcast segment have been largely skeptical, with many fans suggesting O’Malley’s team might be providing unrealistic assessments. One Twitter user commented, “Sean definitely doesn’t wanna fight Umar lol,” while another suggested, “Sean needs a whole new staff. Inconsistent coaching and yes men are not gonna help him at all.”
While O’Malley has proven himself an elite striker with impressive technical skills, the suggestion that he could easily handle Nurmagomedov’s grappling after struggling with Dvalishvili’s wrestling-heavy approach has many in the MMA community questioning the objectivity of his inner circle.
For now, O’Malley seems content to take time off before making any decisions about his next career move.
