Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 10 event in Las Vegas, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
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First up, let’s take a look at the preliminary card …
Merab Dvalishvili
Wants to fight: Sean O’Malley
The callout: “Big respect for Sean O’Malley, but I want to fight next with him. So let’s make this happen, I’m ready. Let’s show everyone a good, real fight.”
The reality: There are so many options available for the UFC’s matchmakers at bantamweight, and with O’Malley continuing his relentless rise up the UFC’s 135-pound division with a victory over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250, the choice of his next opponent will be the topic of much speculation. The UFC could decide to throw him in with top-10 opposition next, but with a host of contenders already jostling for position at the sharp end of the division, they may opt to slow-play “The Suga Show” and give him someone a little lower down the pecking order. That may open up the opportunity for Merab Dvalishvili, whose ambitions at 135 are as high as O’Malley’s.
The fight would offer a fascinating clash of styles, with O’Malley’s striking skills going up against Dvalishvili’s seasoned grappling credentials. It would act as an acid test for both men, but it’s a risky fight, especially given Dvalishvili’s unranked status. Is it a risk worth taking now, or should the UFC matchmakers build both men with a view to the pair meeting in a battle of ranked contenders further down the line? I’d probably side with the latter approach.
Next up: Dominant debutant issues a challenge, but should she be aiming higher?
Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN 10 winners want next – and how likely they'll get them
