A bantamweight matchup pitting Sean
O’Malley against Thomas
Almeida is expected for UFC
260.
O’Malley initially announced the bout on his YouTube channel, and
multiple outlets subsequently reported that verbal agreements are
in place. UFC 260 takes place on March 27 and is headlined by a
heavyweight championship rematch between Stipe
Miocic and Francis
Ngannou.
The 26-year-old O’Malley suffered his first loss in 13 professional
outings at UFC 252, when he injured his ankle and then was stopped
with elbows and punches by Marlon Vera
4:40 into the opening round of their Aug. 15 encounter. Prior to
that, the Dana White’s Contender Series standout had established
himself as a prospect to watch with UFC triumphs over Terrion
Ware, Andre
Soukhamthath, Jose
Alberto Quinonez and Eddie
Wineland.
Before O’Malley, Almeida was a red-hot bantamweight talent, with
victories in his first 21 professional appearances — including four
in the Octagon. The 29-year-old Sao Paulo native has spiraled
downward since then, losing four of five bouts while competing
infrequently. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss against
Jonathan
Martinez at UFC Fight Night 180 this past October, his first
bout in more than two years.