By FCF Staff

Sean O’Malley has yet to compete since he lost the UFC’s bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili in September. But, the former champ wants to return to the Octagon in a championship fight.

O’Malley dropped the bantamweight title to Dvalishili at UFC 306 via scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. After watching the bout, however, “Sugar” insisted he should have been awarded the bout.

Since then, O’Malley has undergone hip surgery and Dvalishvili is booked to fight Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, January 18th. While attending RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve card in Japan, O’Malley told the broadcast team he wants to fight the winner of that bout (quote via MMA Mania.com).

“Ideally, Merab beats Umar and I get the rematch,” said O’Malley. “But if Umar wins, it’ll be Umar. That’s what I want next is a title fight.

“Hopefully mid next year against the winner of that one.”

The 30-year-old O’Malley won the bantamweight belt in August, 2023, by stopping Aljamain Sterling in round two. The star defended the title the following March by recording a unanimous decision win over Marlon Vera.

That fight marked the second time O’Malley and Vera had fought, as in 2020, the latter stopped “Sugar” in the opening round.