Sandhagen: O'Malley should fight me instead of getting title rematch

UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen believes Sean O'Malley should be fighting him instead of getting a rematch against champion Merab Dvalishvili.

"Let's be real, O'Malley has no business fighting Merab for an immediate rematch," Sandhagen said on Instagram, according to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. "He got beat up in the first fight. He's going to get beat up in the second fight. No one wants to see that fight."

"I'm not booked yet. I want to fight. I am so damn bored. I'll even give this fool as much time as he wants the way that Aljamain (Sterling) gave him as much time as he wants. Just UFC, make the fight that the fans want to see, which is me and O'Malley. Make it happen soon."

O'Malley has been sidelined since dropping the 135-pound division title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306 via unanimous decision. "Suga" revealed he'd sustained a torn labrum in his hip prior to the fight that required surgery. O'Malley appears to be closing in on a return after calling his shot at the title before Dvalishvili's victory over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 earlier this month.

"The Sandman" is eager to step back into the Octagon after sustaining a unanimous decision loss to Nurmagomedov in August. The 32-year-old won his three fights prior to last year's defeat, which included wins over Marlon Vera and Rob Font.