Potential Matchups Spark Debate: Nurmagomedov vs. O'Malley, Sandhagen vs. Merab
Potential Matchups Spark Debate: Nurmagomedov vs. O'Malley, Sandhagen vs. Merab originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
UFC 316 saw the continuation of a dominant title reign for Merab Dvalishvili, who dispatched of the challenger and former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley with a rare north-south Ezekiel choke. With his first finish since 2021, Dvalishvili is undoubtedly the king of the division. Now that the dust has settled, the division is ripe for new potential matchups that will bring fireworks to the deepest division in the UFC.
Advertisement
The UFC bantamweight division is heating up, and former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson has weighed in on the brewing debates.
UFC CEO Dana WhitePhoto by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
On The Mighty Guru show, the MMA legend laid out his ideal scenarios for the 135-pound title picture, emphasizing the need for fresh contenders and solid matchmaking.
'You can do Umar [Nurmagomedov] versus Sean O'Malley when Sean's ready to come back; that'll be a banger fight,' Johnson said, highlighting the fan-friendly potential of a clash between the rising Dagestani star and the flashy former champ.
Both O'Malley and Nurmagomedov are coming off of failed title challenges against the current reigning champion, so a match between these two could rebuild both of their resumes with a high-profile win, keeping them around the top of the rankings.
Advertisement
With O'Malley now on a two-fight skid, Johnson's suggestion of booking him against Umar would allow Cory Sandhagen to step into a title eliminator or even a direct shot at Merab
When bringing up Sandhagen, Johnson questioned the UFC's recent tendency to grant title shots off losses, arguing, 'Why not just give Merab vs. Cory? Have Umar fight Sean or Umar fight somebody else to let those guys [earn it]... stop giving title fights off of a loss, how about that?'
Sandhagen, who recently rebounded with a technical submission win over former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, has long been a top contender with a stellar resume but has yet to challenge for the undisputed belt.
Sandhagen's case for a title shot is bolstered by his recent performances, including wins over Rob Font and Marlon "Chito" Vera. Despite a close loss to Umar in a title eliminator last year, "The Sandman" has consistently faced the division's toughest competition.
Advertisement
Merab, for his part, seems open to all challenges. After his latest title defense at UFC 316, he called out Sandhagen as the most deserving contender.
"He's a new style and we know there is no MMA math,' said Dvalishvili in an interview with Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned. 'The style makes the fight, and Cory, he's a different style. It will be a test for me."
Related: UFC Fighter's Brain Tumor Made Weight Cut Impossible, Now Promotion May Cut Her After Third Consecutive Loss
Related: UFC 316 Nearly Derailed by Chaos as Crowd Barrier Collapses During Championship Walkout (Video)
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp
Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Over offseason after their Super Bowl LIX win, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL world with the trade of a key safety that helped hold off the Kansas City Chiefs. Advertisement The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in exchange for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round selection, even after Gardner-Johnson posted six interceptions last season. Months after the trade, Gardner-Johnson has talked about the trade and even took to social media recently to seemingly respond to comments made by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. At a workout and interview with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Gardner-Johnson talked about being "disrespected" by the offseason buzz. "I feel highly disrespected, but it's a business,' Gardner-Johnson said. 'Never was an All-Pro or Pro Bowl! Never! Led the league in interceptions. What more do you want? Advertisement 'People say, 'He's a hazard, he's this, he's that.' I never been no hazard, bro. They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain't going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one. I got three more championships in me. I'm probably going to win the next three. I'm going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch.' Gardner-Johnson, 27, has set his sights on Super Bowl LX with the Texans. Houston is a franchise with a talented roster, especially its stacked defense, but they've never reached the AFC title game before with six losses in the divisional round of the playoffs. Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson before Super Bowl Streicher-Imagn Images Regardless, Gardner-Johnson is eager to join head coach DeMeco Ryans' squad and make an immediate impact. Advertisement "I can't speak for everybody, but I know that we're gonna get in there and be at the top at the end of the year and have a chance to compete for a championship," Gardner-Johnson said. 'I think that's why I'm here. I'm proud to be a Texan. I want to make coach Ryans proud. Coming together and trying to win one together, it would be kind of amazing.' Related: C.J. Stroud Puts Injury Concerns to Rest This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News
Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Any games featuring Boston Red Sox teammates Kristian Campbell and Lucas Giolito, at least in the short term, will feature Campbell at second base and Giolito on the mound. Advertisement Whether or not that partnership will continue past the trade deadline, though, remains to be seen. Although Campbell's future in Boston is safe given his top prospect status, Giolito is a pending free agent on a team potentially destined for a fourth losing season in six years. Could, and would, the 29-33 Red Sox wave the white flag and fully pivot to a Campbell-led future? If so, Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer won't be surprised to see Boston trade Giolito ahead of the July 31 deadline. Giolito, who turns 31 next month, owns a 4.78 ERA and 26-10 K-BB ratio over 32 innings. He's a long way removed from the young pitcher who earned All-Star honors with the Chicago White Sox in 2019, and it's been four years since his last above-average season. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas GiolitoDale Zanine-Imagn Images "He's at least an innings-eater," Rymer argued, "and it probably wouldn't be hard to get Boston to eat some of his $19 million salary." Advertisement Indeed, Giolito is in the final year of a two-year, $38.5 million contract. The Red Sox (or whoever holds his rights come the offseason) also have a $14 million club option if he throws fewer than 140 innings. However, that becomes a $19 million mutual option if he hits that innings mark. Giolito signed that contract before missing all of last year with right elbow surgery. The inconsistent Red Sox are already making significant moves, announcing Monday that Campbell won't receive reps at first base after all. Instead, manager Alex Cora made it clear they're keeping Campbell at second. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow notably backed Cora over the weekend amid repeated calls for a managerial change. Advertisement Time is running out for Campbell, Giolito, and the Red Sox to right the ship. Boston enters Tuesday trailing by nine games in the AL East, and the Red Sox are 4.5 games out of the AL's third and final Wild Card spot. Related: Red Sox Make Major Kristian Campbell Announcement Before Monday's Game Related: Padres Reportedly Interested in Making Major All-Star Trade After Gavin Sheets Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox Share Rafael Devers Injury News After Rays Game
Red Sox Share Rafael Devers Injury News After Rays Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If not for New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge and his team's mediocre season, it feels safe to say that Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers would be a dark horse AL MVP candidate. Advertisement Alas, Judge exists, and Devers has a new problem beyond Boston's 32-36 record. Red Sox manager Alex Cora implied that Devers is battling an undisclosed injury, one that contributed to him slowing down while running out a ground ball against the New York Yankees on Sunday. Cora did not disclose what is bothering Devers, who has played all 68 games for the fourth-place Red Sox. 'He plays every day; obviously, he's a DH, and there's certain things—nothing major—but stuff that we have to pay attention to,' Cora said after Monday's 11-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Devers went 0-for-3 with three walks on Monday night. Cora said the Red Sox training staff said any issue that Devers has is 'nothing major.' Advertisement 'It's something that we can actually handle, and he'll be playing,' Cora reiterated. Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael DeversKen Blaze-Imagn Images The Red Sox had not announced Tuesday's lineup as of publication. After beginning the season in a historic 0-for-21 slump, Devers has been among baseball's hottest hitters in recent weeks. The three-time All-Star is batting .328 with nine home runs, 38 RBI, and a stellar 1.047 OPS since May 1. Devers owns a 30-30 K-BB ratio in his last 166 plate appearances, though the Red Sox are only 15-21 in that span. Related: Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News Related: Red Sox Seemingly Admitting Failure on $140 Million Bust This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
