Tim Welch’s opinion of Sean O’Malley being a tricky stylistic matchup for featherweight champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t modified after UFC 308.
Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) capped off a banner 2024 by knocking out one other divisional nice in Max Holloway this previous Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Previous to UFC 308, Welch mentioned he sees “flat-footed” Topuria as a extra favorable matchup for O’Malley than Holloway. O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has since misplaced his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, however Welch nonetheless thinks a struggle with Topuria may occur sometime.
“I don’t suppose it’s previous,” Welch informed Submission Radio. “I imply, you by no means know what’s going to occur within the UFC. It’s not unimaginable that Volkanovski goes on the market and beats Ilia Topuria. I imply, that’s doable. So, you by no means know, and I do suppose stylistically, Sean may give Ilia issues. He actually may, however Ilia Topuria is a really, very scary struggle.
“That’s not a struggle you go in there and be like, ‘Oh yeah, man, we’re going to exit,’ – it’s like, you make one mistake with Ilia Topuria, and also you’re going to be lights out, wanting up on the ceiling or no matter. However that’s a scary, scary struggle. However I do consider that Sean, along with his vary and along with his velocity and with simply his general talent set, he may give Ilia issues. I do consider that.”
After dropping his title to Dvalishvili, O’Malley underwent surgical procedure for a torn labrum in his left hip – an damage he got here into the struggle with. Dvalishvili seems prepared to grant O’Malley a direct rematch, and if the pair do run issues again, Welch is assured that “The Suga Present” would get the end.
“A wholesome Sean, I do consider we go on the market and find yourself KO’ing Merab in between some kind of scramble or one thing,” Welch mentioned. “On the in-betweens, I feel Sean will be capable of catch his chin and put him down.”
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