Sean O’Malley calls for interim title fight at UFC 285 with Henry Cejudo: ‘Tell me that ain’t fire’

Sean O'Malley Henry Cejudo UFC 285

UFC bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley has called for his shot at bantamweight gold – albeit interim spoils, in the form of a title fight against the returning former two-weight champion, Henry Cejudo at UFC 285 on March 4. 

Montana native, O’Malley currently boasts the #1 rank in the official UFC bantamweight pile, earning the division top-spot with a close split decision win over former undisputed titleholder, Petr Yan at UFC 280 last October in Abu Dhabi, UAE.


Yet to be booked in the time since, O’Malley, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series, claimed in the months following his ‘Fight Island’ judging win over Dudinka striker, Yan, how he had been “guaranteed” a title fight in his next Octagon outing, however.

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Sean O’Malley offers to face Henry Cejudo for interim spoils at UFC 285

With undisputed champion, Aljamain Sterling recently revealing how a bicep injury may prevent him from making a planned fight with Olympic gold medalist, Cejudo as soon as March 4. – O’Malley has offered to fight for an interim division championship against the latter on the same date.

Perfect: Me vs. Henry (Cejudo) for the interim belt (at UFC 285),” Sean O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Tell me that ain’t fire?

I texted Hunter (Campbell), texted Sean Shelby, I said, ‘Will you at least give me an idea? Will you at least say yes or no? Is Henry versus Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) happening?’” Sean O’Malley said. “They [the UFC] just don’t know… They’re kind of just trying to wait to see if (Sterling) can (make UFC 285) or what. I’m frustrated, but I’m OK, because I’m training.” 

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In tandem with his offer to fight Los Angeles wrestling ace, Cejudo for an interim title – O’Malley offered to rematch Marlon Vera, before the Ecuadorian was booked to fight fellow contender, Cory Sandhagen next month.

O’Malley’s sole professional loss came in the form of a first round ground strikes TKO loss to Vera back in August 2020 in the co-main event of UFC 252.