Sean O'Malley is fighting for more than just a chance of redemption and the Bantamweight title this weekend, according to UFC legend Chael Sonnen.
The former 135 pound King takes on Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday evening, after he had lost his belt on the Georgian in September. It has been a division, with many who feel that O'Malley should have had at least one fight before he got another shot.
Sonen, however, believes that it is a fight of generation talents, with the title of the largest bantam weight ever on the line of the UFC. He believes that the title is currently being held by Dvalishvili, and that a victory from O'Malley would see that it is being transferred, since both are in their respective prime numbers.
Sean O'Malley has the chance to become UFC's largest Bantamweight ever according to Chael Sonnen
Sean O'Malley had a meteoric turnout to the top of the UFC Bantamweight Division, but it was brought to a poor stop at UFC 306 when he was dominated by Merab Dvalishvili. And after a stunning victory against Umar Nurmagomedov in January, he has put together a great run, he now becomes a big desire.
And Sonnen explained in a new YouTube video how the winner of Saturday's fight will be the best of all time in the division. “I want to make sure you understand what the hell is on this table,” began the former middleweight and light-heavy title competition.
“They are fighting for 'Greatest 135-Ponder of all time, but you know. Merab from the top of my head I can call four world champions that he has defeated, not looking it up. I can tell you about Jose Aldo, I can tell you about Petr Yan, I can tell you about Sean O'Malley and I can tell you about Henry Cejudo.
“Four world champions, you have to understand when that is the streak that is never interrupted where you have won ten or eleven with four world champions on the road. Imagine that he had the leash far back, he would have defeated three world champions and have been with the belt on a seven-Fight win-streak.
“These guys really fight for the best 135-ponder ever, I think. I think because I think that's merab. Jon Anik, the voice of the Octagon, told us it's Merab.”
Sean O'Malley believes he will start his career prime after turning 30
It has been a busy few months for Sean O'Malley since he lost his world title in September. He became 30 in October and has since welcomed a second child with his wife Danya last month.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
In the meantime, he has applied a number of hardcore lifestyle changes, including a general ban on social media and smoking marijuana. And he feels that he is about to put the performance of your life after a stars -littered training camp.
“I am 30 now and we should not see myself in my prime,” O'Malley told the media including Bloody Elbow on the UFC 316 Media Day of today. “This is perhaps the first fight in my bloom, but I want to linger for as long as possible, the lifespan is in my mind every day.”