Sean O’Malley’s got a point. Marlon Vera isn’t your run-of-the-mill contender. He’s something else. And deep down? Vera knows it too.
But, oh, the backstory here is juicy. Vera handed O’Malley his first defeat with a TKO back in August 2020. Now, O’Malley’s itching for payback. Their rematch is set to light up the UFC 299 main event this Saturday in Miami. The anticipation is real.
O’Malley was blunt in a chat with ESPN. “Zero percent chance [Vera gets a shot if I’m not champ],” he declared. He believes others like Cory Sandhagen and Merab Dvalishvili might be more deserving. But after knocking out the bantamweight GOAT, O’Malley had a single request: the Vera rematch. “I’ve never really asked for anything. Just this,” he said.
It’s not like O’Malley’s been losing sleep over Vera. But now? The stars have aligned for a title fight offer. “Everything is working out perfect,” O’Malley mused.
Vera’s had a mixed bag in 2023, splitting decisions with Cory Sandhagen and Pedro Munhoz. Yet, this 31-year-old from Ecuador has been on a tear, securing wins over big names like Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar. O’Malley thinks Vera isn’t sweating the fact that he might’ve skipped the line for this shot.
“Chito’s a cold-blooded killer,” O’Malley observed. He doubts the title shot scenario will faze Vera. “He knows he’s getting this because I’m the champ. But he’s a killer. That won’t bother him mentally.”
Post-Vera, O’Malley’s got his sights on featherweight champ Ilia Topuria. Not to dodge bantamweight contenders, but for a blockbuster matchup. “Me vs. Ilia in September in Vegas? Let’s make it happen,” he proposed. For O’Malley, it’s about the biggest fight, the biggest payday. “I’m in the business of making money,” he admitted. Facing Ilia could be that next big thing.