Cory Sandhagen is seeking the sternest tests in the bantamweight division in his quest for gold.
Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) called out Merab Dvalishvili (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) after he beat Marlon Vera at UFC on ESPN 43 nine days ago and views him as the best fighter in the division outside of the title fight between champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 on May 6.
While he acknowledges that Sean O’Malley (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) arguably is the biggest name and draw in the division, that’s not what Sandhagen is after.
“That’s when it just comes down to the value thing,” Sandhagen said in an interview with Sportskeeda. “O’Malley is a good fighter, but he’s not as tough of a challenge as Merab. Am I going to call out that guy that I know is not that tough of a challenge just because everyone makes him out to be a very famous, popular guy?
“I don’t really care about the fame and the popularity too much. I’m going to operate on the value system that I have, which is ask for the toughest challenge – and that’s Merab. It’s not O’Malley. That’s hopefully who I get next.”
O’Malley opted not to serve as a backup for Sterling and Cejudo’s title fight, but revealed that he’s recently spoken to the UFC and they’ve guaranteed him the winner.
“My next fight will be f*cking huge, guaranteed: winner of Henry-Aljo,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “I talked with the UFC. and that’s happening. It’s official: Winner of that fight, I’ll fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 43.
Cory Sandhagen: Sean O’Malley good, but not as tough a challenge as Merab Dvalishvili
