Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik thinks one recent revelation may have boosted the UFC's spirits following the unseating of Sean O'Malley from the bantamweight throne.
O'Malley's reign came to an emphatic halt at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili earlier this month when the pair headlined the UFC 306 (Noche UFC) pay-per-view event inside the Sphere.
The Georgian challenger closed out the Mexican Independence Day celebration by utilizing his renowned cardio and grappling prowess en route to a convincing unanimous decision triumph over "Suga."
That result saw O'Malley's divisional rule end in his second defense, six months on from his first opposite Marlon "Chito" Vera in Miami. In the eyes of some, "The Machine" played spoiler for the UFC's plan to ascend O'Malley to superstar status.
Anik, however, has explained why the organization may not be as down on the Montana native's loss as many would expect...
Anik: UFC Avoided Possible Interim Title Scenario With O'Malley Defeat
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Anik reflected on the UFC's debut event inside the Sphere on September 14, paying particular attention to the result that closed out the show.
Anik appeared to acknowledge that Dvalishvili's win was perhaps not the outcome favored by the promotion at the time. But with the revelation regarding "Suga's" injury — a torn labrum that requires surgery — the commentator suggested that the title changing hands could be a blessing in disguise for the UFC.
I think the good news if you're looking for a silver lining for the UFC is that had Sean won this fight, maybe this hip injury would have had to be repaired anyway, right?" Anik said. "And then you wonder if you need an interim champion. So I think right now, your new champion is pretty durable and willing to take on all challengers.
And a murderers' row, of course, awaits Sean O'Malley with the Cory Sandhagens of all the world and everybody else," Anik continued. "There are a lot of dream-type matchups at '35 for fight fans, right? Even Sean O'Malley and Dominick Cruz makes some semblance of sense right now. So there's a lot of different fights at '35 that make a lot of sense.
It remains to be seen when O'Malley will have his chance to bounce back inside the cage, with the former champ himself giving timelines ranging from eight months to a full one-year layoff.
But throughout his stint on the sidelines, it would appear that fans are set to see plenty more social media posts claiming victory over Dvalishvili — and alongside that, plenty of X community notes...
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