Ali Akbar RosadyFormer two-division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Henry Cejudo has issued a stern warning regarding the future of the UFC bantamweight title picture, stating he would be "done watching the sport" if Sean O’Malley is granted an immediate title shot without competing again. Cejudo’s comments, made on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast, follow O’Malley’s recent victory at UFC 324 and subsequent remarks about his willingness to wait for a championship opportunity.
O’Malley, known as "Suga," secured a unanimous decision win over Song Yadong in the co-main event of UFC 324 this past Saturday. The bout, characterized by its competitive nature and a relative lack of highlight-reel moments, saw O’Malley rebound from consecutive losses. Following the event, O’Malley addressed reporters, indicating his comfort with his current standing and his readiness to await a title shot, particularly if the UFC opts to book a trilogy bout between current bantamweight champion Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili.
Cejudo, a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and a decorated figure in MMA, expressed strong opposition to the notion of O’Malley receiving a title shot purely by waiting. "You cannot just sit there and think if you just wait, surpass Umar Nurmagomedov or Cory Sandhagen just, ‘Oh yeah, I’m next. Let me just kick it and watch.’ Bro, that ain’t it," Cejudo asserted. He continued, underscoring the gravity of his sentiment, "And if the UFC does do that, I’m f*cking done watching the sport. That would be ridiculous." Cejudo’s remarks highlight a persistent tension within the sport between a merit-based ranking system and the promotional aspects often influenced by fighter popularity and marketability.
Sean O’Malley’s trajectory in the UFC has been marked by significant promotional backing and a rapidly growing fanbase, particularly among younger demographics. His journey began with a memorable knockout victory on "Dana White’s Contender Series" in 2017, which not only earned him a UFC contract but also immediate acclaim from hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg, who was providing guest commentary during O’Malley’s fight. A subsequent 4-0 start to his UFC career further propelled his popularity, establishing him as a burgeoning star with broad appeal.
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O’Malley reached the pinnacle of the bantamweight division at UFC 292, where he claimed the championship by knocking out Aljamain Sterling. He successfully defended his title once before experiencing consecutive championship defeats to Merab Dvalishvili and Sterling’s close friend and teammate. Cejudo’s critique stems from the perception that O’Malley’s recent win over Song Yadong, while a positive step, was not dominant enough to warrant an immediate return to the front of the title contender queue, especially given his recent championship losses.
Cejudo further elaborated on his "delusional" assessment of O’Malley’s stance, drawing a parallel to Conor McGregor’s past approaches to title contention. "It’s almost like Sean’s a little delusional," Cejudo stated. "He still thinks he’s a little bit of Conor, where he wants to wait. ‘It’s alright, Merab’s got the next fight everybody.’ He really thinks he’s fcking slick as shit, because he is saying the truth. Merab really does deserve it with what he’s been able to do. ‘I’ll just wait and then I’ll get the winner,’ I say bro, it don’t work like that." Cejudo’s argument emphasizes the necessity for active contention, questioning the implications for other high-ranked fighters. "What happens to fcking Umar Nurmagomedov who had the closest fight with Merab Dvalishvili? What happens if Merab loses to Petr Yan? The beef between the Russia on Russia crime. I like that stuff."
On his podcast, Cejudo and co-host Kamaru Usman concurred that Umar Nurmagomedov presents a more deserving challenger than O’Malley based on recent performances and divisional standing. Nurmagomedov’s recent bout at UFC 324 against Deiveson Figueiredo, while not a fan-favorite, added another win to his undefeated record, further solidifying his claim. Nurmagomedov himself expressed frustration over the fight’s pace, placing blame on Figueiredo for a perceived lack of engagement.
In a more unconventional suggestion, Cejudo proposed an alternative opponent for O’Malley: Payton Talbott, a fighter Cejudo himself recently competed against in his retirement bout. "But I will mention this and I like this fight probably more than all of these," Cejudo remarked. "You do Payton Talbott vs. Sean O’Malley. I think that’s a really good fight for Payton. I think Payton will put the hands on him, you know why? Because Payton, if he was able to surprise me with takedowns and even inside trip me, Sean’s in trouble." This unexpected proposition from Cejudo suggests a belief in Talbott’s potential to disrupt the bantamweight landscape and challenge O’Malley’s striking-heavy style.
The broader context of UFC 324 itself garnered significant attention. The event marked the UFC’s debut on Paramount+, with the promotion touting record-breaking viewership numbers for the streaming platform. Despite the reported success, the broadcast faced criticism regarding the abundance of advertisements, a decision Dana White, UFC CEO, attributed to Paramount’s prerogative. O’Malley’s recent performance carried additional weight for the fighter, who admitted that retirement was a distinct possibility had he lost to Song Yadong, underscoring the high stakes involved in his comeback fight.
The ongoing discussion surrounding O’Malley’s path to the title highlights a recurring debate within the mixed martial arts community: the balance between a fighter’s competitive merit and their commercial appeal in securing championship opportunities. While some observers, including Cejudo, advocate for a strict adherence to rankings and a continuous challenge system, others acknowledge the UFC’s historical tendency to sometimes prioritize marketable matchups. The bantamweight division, rich with talent including champion Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Cory Sandhagen, remains one of the most competitive and intriguing in the sport, with its future title picture now a focal point of intense discussion following Cejudo’s outspoken comments.
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