Henry Cejudo criticized the idea of Sean O’Malley getting a quick title shot against UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan, arguing that other fighters like Umar Nurmagomedov deserve the opportunity more.
Henry Cejudo isn’t quite sure who should challenge UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan next, but he’s certain it shouldn’t be Sean O’Malley. "Suga" O’Malley recently snagged a win at UFC 324, though the fight with Song Yadong was anything but electrifying.
O’Malley, with his ever-growing fanbase, might think this victory earns him another title shot. He’s content to wait if Yan faces Merab Dvalishvili again. But on his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo wasn’t having it.
“You can’t just sit around thinking you’re next,” Cejudo exclaimed. “If the UFC pulls that move, I’m done watching. It’s absurd.” O’Malley’s been a star since his knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2017, with even Snoop Dogg singing his praises.
After becoming bantamweight champ at UFC 292, O’Malley’s faced ups and downs. Cejudo questions why one decent performance should fast-track him back to the top. “Sean’s a bit delusional,” Cejudo remarked. “He thinks he’s the next Conor. Waiting around doesn’t cut it.”
Cejudo and Kamaru Usman agreed that Umar Nurmagomedov deserves a shot more than O’Malley. Yet, Cejudo threw a curveball, suggesting Payton Talbott as a worthy opponent for O’Malley. “Talbott could surprise him,” Cejudo noted.
Switching gears, UFC 324 had its share of drama. Dana White mentioned the ad overload was Paramount’s doing, while the network boasted impressive numbers for its UFC debut. Sean O’Malley admitted retirement was on the table if he’d lost to Yadong.
Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov wasn’t thrilled with his fight against Deiveson Figueiredo, blaming the lackluster outcome on his opponent. Jed Meshew joined Morning Kombat for a UFC 324 recap, while Dan Hooker prepared for UFC 325 Q&A.
In other news, Seán Sheehan and Ian O’Neill shared their thoughts on UFC 324’s Paramount+ debut. Social media buzzed with the week’s best knockouts and celebrations.
Lastly, if you’ve got something for the Morning Report, reach out to @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter. Follow MMAFighting across all social platforms for more updates.