Topuria wants O'Malley to beat Dvalishvili before potential superfight
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria doesn't think a fight with bantamweight champ Sean O'Malley should be next.
Topuria responded to O'Malley's callout Sunday morning, telling "Suga" to handle his business with No. 1 bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili before they meet in the Octagon.
Suga, congrats.. Was a beautiful performance! There is a fight chasing you with Merab.. Get that done first .
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) March 10, 2024
O'Malley dominated Marlon "Chito" Vera in his first 135-pound title defense at UFC 299 on Saturday in Miami. After the win, O'Malley said he wants to go to Spain and challenge Topuria for 145-pound gold. But O'Malley also indicated a willingness to defend his belt against Dvalishvili if that's what fans want.
"It's just an exciting fight," O'Malley said of a potential matchup with Topuria at the postfight press conference, per MMA Junkie. "I'm here for massive fights, and that's what I want to be part of. If that's it, sweet, Merab's it, sweet. I like having options."
UFC CEO Dana White wasn't too receptive to the idea of O'Malley moving up in weight after just one title defense to face Topuria, who captured the featherweight belt at UFC 298 in February by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski.
"I don't know about moving divisions," White said at the postfight press conference. "You know how I feel about that. Even Topuria was talking about not fighting anybody in the division after just winning the title. That's crazy talk."