Sean O’Malley has change into one of many greatest superstars on the whole roster along with his subsequent battle headlining the primary, and maybe solely, UFC card that may ever occur at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Since first arriving from the Contender Collection, the at all times colourful bantamweight champion has drawn a crowd along with his enchantment rising larger and greater with every efficiency. At a time when Conor McGregor has been out of motion for over three years, O’Malley and some others have change into huge sights, however does that imply the UFC really roots for him to win?
As a lot as that narrative will get pushed at occasions, not too long ago retired UFC veteran Matt Brown doesn’t purchase that the group as an entire desires O’Malley to win and Merab Dvalishvili to lose simply because it’s higher for the corporate’s backside line. Fact be instructed, Brown is aware of after spending 16 years with the promotion that nobody fighter is greater than the UFC itself.
“The UFC’s having a file yr,” Brown mentioned on The Fighter vs. The Author. “Whether or not they’re quietly rooting or really rooting for somebody, I don’t know as a result of they’re having a file yr. They don’t want a single individual. They’ve obtained the model. They’re fairly set. They’re f*cking cool.
“Nonetheless setting data. The UFC is a monster f*cking model. They’re an absolute monster. They don’t want any particular star.”
It’s powerful to argue with that logic contemplating the UFC has continued to post record earnings year after year with out most of the sport’s greatest stars competing proper now.
Whereas O’Malley’s enchantment and drawing energy are plain, Brown argues that if the UFC actually wished to offer him the perfect alternative to stay champion he can be going through lesser competitors reasonably than a doubtlessly troublesome stylistic matchup with someone like Dvalishvili.
“In the end the one factor you’ve obtained to like and respect concerning the UFC is you do eat what you kill,” Brown defined. “You might need to do extra killing than the opposite man however you do get to eat it. Whether or not they’re quietly rooting or not, I can’t even speculate on that as a result of I simply haven’t any actual clue.
“If I’m Dana White, I’m quietly rooting for Sean O’Malley, too, however the reality is that they put the battle collectively. In the event that they have been actually rooting for Sean O’Malley, they wouldn’t have put the battle collectively.”
Brown says the most important benefit someone like O’Malley has along with his star energy is that he in all probability obtained just a few extra alternatives handed to him. Dvalishvili would nearly actually agree after he needed to put collectively a 10-fight undefeated streak together with wins over three former UFC champion to lastly earn a title shot whereas O’Malley solely has 4 fights towards ranked opponents in his profession.
“It’s very clear Sean has had a better path,” Brown mentioned. “I feel that’s actually what you get from having that stardom, however you continue to need to battle the hardest guys. Merab simply had a tougher path. That’s the one distinction, proper? Or Belal [Muhammad], he had a tougher path. Leon [Edwards] had a tougher path then the overwhelming majority of fellows. I feel that’s the place it actually comes into play.”
Even when O’Malley didn’t have to leap over as many hurdles as Dvalishvili to get the place he’s at, the self-proclaimed “Suga Present” can’t keep on the high if he’s not profitable in his greatest fights.
Brown is aware of finally everyone within the UFC has to face a frightening take a look at and up to now O’Malley has handed each single one with flying colours.
“We go on on a regular basis speaking about how there’s not likely ‘deserving’ on this world,” Brown mentioned. “Loads of occasions humorous issues occur, completely different fights get put collectively that shouldn’t get put collectively, all these sorts of issues however finally in case you keep on the trail, you’re going to return throughout the f*cking baddest dudes within the f*cking world and that’s all there may be to it.”
In fact, Brown additionally appreciates that Dvalishvili didn’t falter in his quest to change into champion even when it’s taking him quite a bit longer to get there.
In truth, Dvalishvili’s win streak was so spectacular that followers pushed for him to lastly get his title shot whereas denying O’Malley’s final want to transfer as much as 145 kilos to battle for a second UFC title.
“Merab, you’ve obtained to offer him credit score, he earned the matchup,” Brown mentioned. “He mainly put the UFC able the place they’re like Merab or bust. After you’ve a [10-fight] win streak beating the fellows he’s overwhelmed, you simply can’t deny the man anymore.”
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