Sean
O’Malley says a matchup against Payton
Talbott hinges on the next
Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title bout.
Talbott claims O’Malley turned down a fight against him for
UFC Freedom 250 in June. O’Malley, who knocked out Aiemann
Zahabi at the White House event, says he was never offered a
fight against Talbott. “Suga” is open to the matchup, but a title
shot is the former champion’s top priority.
Sean O’Malley wants Petr Yan title rematch if Yan beats Merab
Dvalishvili
Talbott (12-1) made quick work of Deiveson
Figueiredo at UFC
332 on Saturday in Salt Lake City. He then called out O’Malley
in his post-fight interview, with the UFC commentators strongly
supporting the matchup during the broadcast.
O’Malley says fighting Talbott next depends on the upcoming
bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and
Merab
Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili challenges Yan for the title in a
trilogy bout at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. If Yan loses,
O’Malley is ready to fight Talbott next. If the Russian
successfully defends his title, O’Malley wants to challenge him in
a rematch after edging Yan via split decision in their first
encounter in 2022.
“Petr goes out there and loses, let’s squabble, me and Payton,”
O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Let’s make it happen. Petr
goes out there and wins, I’m ducking [Talbott]. I’m ducking him for
a tougher fight. I’m ducking him for Petr Yan.”
O’Malley then pointed to his record as evidence that he doesn’t
duck anyone.
“I have fought four of the greatest bantamweights of all time –
Petr, Aljo, Merab, and I beat Merab once,” O’Malley added. “So, I
beat three of the greatest bantamweights of all time. I ain’t
ducking.”