What’s Next for Sean O’Malley After UFC 252?

Last night was tough for bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley. The previously undefeated fighter was handed his first-ever loss by Marlon Vera. So where does the ‘Suga Show’ go from here? Is it another hype train derailed?

O’Malley and Vera co-headlined UFC 252. Initially, the bout was competitive, and both men seemed sharp with their strikes. However, things went downhill for O’Malley after he rolled on his ankle. An offensive fighter turned into a defensive one.

As “Chito” tried to close the distance, O’Malley winged out desperation punches. His leg was unstable and he could not move like he wanted to.

It is interesting to note that O’Malley suffered a similar injury during his fight with Andre Soukhamthath. The only difference between that match and this one is that Andre failed to seize the opportunity.  Nevertheless, Marlon Vera is way too good to let an opportunity like that pass by.

After Sean O’Malley crumbled under his own weight, the Ecuadorian jumped into O’Malley’s guard and landed heavy elbows. Luckily, referee Herb Dean saw that “Suga Sean” was out cold momentarily and called off the bout.

WATCH: Nasty Injury Ends Sean O’Malley’s Unbeaten Streak at UFC 252

Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera 2?

Considering all the circumstances that lead to the finish, many people will pay up to see this match again. And to some extent, it makes sense for the UFC to make the rematch. But some factors have to be considered.

Firstly, how long will O’Malley be out? If it’s a serious injury, then it is safe to say he will be out of competition for a while. And Vera cannot afford to stay put. The rematch becomes even harder to make if Vera wins his next fight as it will bump him up in the rankings even more.

For now, O’Malley will need to take some time off to heal his foot. He may also require surgery, followed by therapy. Besides that, O’Malley might consider a style change. In the past, “Suga Sean” has mentioned that his foot has given him constant problems, even though he had surgery on it.

Upon his return, he could fight some other athlete in the top fifteen, and try to get the rematch (if that’s what he wants). Realistically speaking, it’s too early to say Sean O’Malley is another “hype train derailed”. The injury is legitimate, and it clearly affected the outcome of the bout.