Sean
O’Malley already has the makings a star in the Ultimate
Fighting Championship. Now he just needs the resume to back it
up.
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A victory over Pedro
Munhoz at UFC 276
will be a significant step forward for O’Malley, who is 7-1 in the
Octagon thus far but doesn’t yet have that signature victory.
Munhoz owns notable wins over the likes of Jimmie
Rivera, Cody
Garbrandt and Rob Font, while
his last four losses have come to some of the sport’s biggest
names: Dominick
Cruz, Jose Aldo,
Frankie
Edgar and Aljamain
Sterling.
“Yeah, beating Pedro will be a big deal,” O’Malley told assembled
media on Wednesday. “I think he’s only lost to former world
champions. Not just beating Pedro, but finishing Pedro would be a
massive deal. He’s fought and only lost to former world champions.
With that being said, I do believe I’ll be his toughest fight. I
think he’s my toughest fight, as well.”
O’Malley has received a strong promotional push ever since he
emerged from Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series, with
prominent placement on some of the UFC’s biggest events. That is
once again the case on Saturday, as “Suga” will occupy a UFC 276
pay-per-view draw that includes a pair of championship fights.
O’Malley is confident that a title shot of his own could be
imminent if he continues to impress in the Octagon.
“I’m a couple fights away from a title fight, especially if I can
get the finishes I’ve been doing,” he said. “People want to see
that. People want to see me be champion. I’ve just got to go out
there, perform, and do what I’m capable of doing. That’s putting
Pedro’s lights out.”