Umar Nurmagomedov predicts Sean O’Malley smashes Marlon Vera at UFC 299
February 29, 2024 7:40 pm ET
LAS VEGAS â Umar Nurmagomedov thinks Sean O’Malley avenges his loss to Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
Bantamweight champion OâMalley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) makes his first title defense in a rematch against Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) in the March 9 headliner at Kaseya Center in Miami.
A leg injury caused OâMalley to lose his first fight with Vera in August 2020 by TKO, marking his only career loss. Nurmagomedov thinks OâMalley was having his way, until Vera kicked him in his peroneal nerve at the end of Round 1 and finished him on the ground.
âI think Sean OâMalley is going to smash this guy because their last fight, âChitoâ won because OâMalley got injured,â Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 238 media day. âWe donât know whatâs going to happen in this fight if he (didnât get) injured, because until he was injured, OâMalley was smashing him.â
Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to continue his ascent up the bantamweight ladder when he welcomes Bekzat Almakhan (17-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon in Saturdayâs UFC Fight Night 238 (ESPN+) main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Top contender Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was declared as No. 1 contender after outlasting Henry Cejudo at UFC 298, and Nurmagomedov was impressed with his performance.
âVery nice â great performance,â Nurmagomedov said. âWhen Cejudo was in his prime, I think (Dvalishvili) can never beat Cejudo. But we will not know. We canât check this. He did a good job. He pushed, he got ahead, ahead, ahead, and took a nice victory. I can just congratulate him.â
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkieâs event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
