Sean O’Malley smashes Marlon Vera at UFC 299

LAS VEGAS – Umar Nurmagomedov thinks Sean O’Malley avenges his loss to Marlon Vera at UFC 299.

Bantamweight champion O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) makes his first title protection in a rematch in opposition to Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) within the March 9 headliner at Kaseya Heart in Miami.

A leg harm triggered O’Malley to lose his first fight with Vera in August 2020 by TKO, marking his solely profession loss. Nurmagomedov thinks O’Malley was having his approach, till Vera kicked him in his peroneal nerve on the finish of Spherical 1 and completed him on the bottom.

“I believe Sean O’Malley goes to smash this man as a result of their final combat, ‘Chito’ gained as a result of O’Malley obtained injured,” Nurmagomedov instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters at UFC Battle Night time 238 media day. “We don’t know what’s going to occur on this combat if he (didn’t get) injured, as a result of till he was injured, O’Malley was smashing him.”

Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to proceed his ascent up the bantamweight ladder when he welcomes Bekzat Almakhan (17-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon in Saturday’s UFC Battle Night time 238 (ESPN+) fundamental card on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Prime contender Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was declared as No. 1 contender after outlasting Henry Cejudo at UFC 298, and Nurmagomedov was impressed together with his efficiency.

“Very good – nice efficiency,” Nurmagomedov stated. “When Cejudo was in his prime, I believe (Dvalishvili) can by no means beat Cejudo. However we is not going to know. We will’t verify this. He did an excellent job. He pushed, he obtained forward, forward, forward, and took a pleasant victory. I can simply congratulate him.”