Sean O’Malley isn’t sure exactly when his next fight will be, but he’s already started training camp in anticipation of it.
On his YouTube channel, the UFC bantamweight champion said he hopes to fight at The Sphere in Las Vegas this September, or on a December card in the same city. However, without a firm answer, he decided to start preparing as a precaution.
“Honestly, I haven’t heard from the UFC yet and we’re getting too close. [to The Sphere show]”he said. “I’m in camp right now just in case. There’s just over nine weeks left. I’m in camp right now just in case.
“I still have hope for The Sphere. It’s still the same. [expletive] – Sphere or December. I’m pretty sure either way it’s going to be in Vegas, so I’m excited to get back to Vegas and fight.”
O’Malley’s next opponent is expected to be Merab Dvalishvili. The No. 1-ranked bantamweight contender from Georgia has won 10 straight fights, a streak that includes victories over top-ranked fighters such as Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo.
The UFC’s debut at the new, state-of-the-art Sphere Arena in Las Vegas is scheduled for Sept. 14. O’Malley believes his fight with Dvalishvili would make a good main event for the historic card, but he acknowledges the UFC has other options for the main event.
“The Sphere, Dana [White] He keeps saying it’s going to be something [expletive] “It’s crazy,” he said. “You have Conor [McGregor] and [Michael] Chandler, you have Max [Holloway] against Ilia [Topuria]”You’ve got me against Merab. You’ve got some very important fights to make.”
Sean O’Malley won the bantamweight belt with a knockout over Aljamain Sterling last year, and defended it for the first time in March, when he defeated Marlon “Chito” Vera in a clear decision victory.
