UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has responded to Cory Sandhagen’s recent comments about the treatment of fighters within the sport.
Sandhagen, in a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, expressed his desire to attain what he referred to as “famous guy leverage,” citing Umar Nurmagomedov as an example. He also playfully suggested adopting a more unconventional appearance, including face tattoos and dyed hair, possibly inspired by O’Malley.
Acknowledging Sandhagen’s sentiments, O’Malley offered his advice on the matter. Writing on X, O’Malley humorously suggested that a face tattoo might indeed help Sandhagen, and he emphasized the significance of defeating top bantamweight contenders like Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling. O’Malley’s own victory over Sterling last August resulted in him capturing the UFC gold.
Sandhagen, in the same interview, expressed his aspiration to secure a bantamweight title shot upon his return to the octagon.
The current championship bout is scheduled to take place at UFC 299 in March, with O’Malley defending his title against Marlon Vera. Notably, Vera handed O’Malley his first career loss in 2020, making their upcoming rematch all the more intriguing.
While Sandhagen hopes to face the winner of the title fight, he is currently recovering from a torn triceps sustained during a unanimous decision victory over Rob Font in December of the previous year.
Despite his injury setback, Sandhagen eagerly anticipates watching O’Malley and Vera compete for the bantamweight championship while he focuses on his rehabilitation and eventual return to the octagon.
