One former UFC champion is continuing to make his case for a spot at the White House.
Donald Trump announced White House UFC fights this past summer, and plans have continued to advance for the celebratory event in Washington D.C. next year.
The card is now expected to take place on June 14, with UFC president Dana White promising a “spectacular” event that will be among the biggest ever put on by his promotion.
For that to be the case, some big-name fights will need to take place on the White House lawn. And one former champion thinks the promotion is beginning to run out of options.
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Sean O’Malley says UFC has a star issue for the White House event
The UFC doesn’t seem short on star fighters who are ready and willing to compete at the White House event, but a few have seemingly been eliminated from the equation.
While Conor McGregor’s comeback remains uncertain, White has rejected Jon Jones’ comeback plans. Elsewhere, Alex Pereira recently suggested he won’t be fighting in Washington D.C., while Ilia Topuria is on a UFC hiatus due to personal issues.
Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley noted those potential absentees during a recent episode of the Red Hawk Recap podcast with coach Tim Welch.
With that potential issue in mind, ‘Suga’ believes he could cement himself as one of the leading options for the promotion should he put in a standout performance against Song Yadong at UFC 324.
“The White House card has to be — it sounds like it’s happening, and it has to be f—— massive,” O’Malley said.
“Who’s — Conor, we don’t know, Jon Jones, doesn’t sound like it’s going to be him, ain’t gonna be Ilia, ain’t gonna be Pereira.
“Who’s the biggest name — right now, I am still a big name but I’m coming off two losses,” he continued.
“Khamzat (Chimaev) probably won’t be on it…they’re running out of (options). They need me, they need the ‘Suga’ show.”
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Daniel Cormier thinks UFC could pick Sean O’Malley over Merab Dvalishvili to challenge Petr Yan
O’Malley believes he could put himself in position to challenge newly crowned bantamweight king Petr Yan in 2026, and Daniel Cormier is among those who feel the same way.
Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323, shocking the world to start his second stint on the throne. Many believe the Georgian’s historic reign warrants an immediate shot, but ‘DC’ thinks the promotion could favor a more lucrative rematch between O’Malley and the Russian.
“Petr Yan doesn’t seem interested in it,” Cormier said regarding a trilogy fight against Dvalishvili on his Good Guy/Bad Guy show.
“I am telling you, your boy Sean O’Malley, he beats Song Yadong, there will be a little bit of a draw from the company business-wise to go, ‘Maybe, maybe…’
“Merab should be fighting for the belt, no question,” he continued. “There will be a draw, Chael (Sonnen), if Sean O’Malley can get through Song Yadong.
“Sean O’Malley is the biggest star in the weight class, and there will be a draw to say, ‘Hey, why don’t we put O’Malley in there to fight Petr Yan because he’s not gonna get wrestled the whole time?’ But that would feel unfair.”
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