Cory Sandhagen is still awaiting word on his next fight and he’s hoping to get Sean O’Malley’s attention with his latest callout.
The veteran bantamweight contender hasn’t fought since this past August when he lost a decision to Umar Nurmagomedov in a back-and-forth battle in Abu Dhabi. Prior to that loss, Sandhagen had rattled off three wins in a row including a stoppage victory of Song Yadong and he’s anxious to get back to work with O’Malley as his ideal opponent.
Add to that, Sandhagen doesn’t buy that anyone would get excited about O’Malley running it back with reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, which is the fight the always colorful O’Malley has been calling for ever since losing the title at UFC 306.
“Let’s be real, O’Malley has no business fighting Merab for an immediate rematch,” Sandhagen said on Instagram. “He got beat up in the first fight. He’s going to get beat up in the second fight. No one wants to see that fight.
“I’m not booked yet. I want to fight. I am so damn bored. I’ll even give this fool as much time as he wants the way that Aljamain [Sterling] gave him as much time as he wants. Just UFC, make the fight that the fans want to see, which is me and O’Malley. Make it happen soon. I’m so f*cking bored.”
Sandhagen has long considered O’Malley as one of his ideal opponents since both come with a striking pedigree that should make for an exciting fight.
Following the loss to Dvalishvili last year, O’Malley revealed that he suffered a torn labrum in his hip in preparation for the title fight and he later underwent surgery to repair the damage done. That said, O’Malley doesn’t expect to be sidelined for too long and he already called for the chance to face the winner of Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov prior to their fight at UFC 311.
Dvalishvili came out on top with a unanimous decision win against Nurmagomedov, but doesn’t have a clear cut No. 1 contender to face next.
While O’Malley remains a massive name in the sport, Sandhagen obviously believes he needs to earn his way back to a title shot so he’s proposing that they clash sooner rather than later to get the bantamweight division moving again.
