Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier has some matchups in thoughts for the bantamweight division in 2025, together with the following outings for Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan.
The 135-pound weight class is coming into the brand new 12 months with a contemporary champion on the helm and plenty of hungry contenders chasing him down.
Merab Dvalishvili achieved his title ambitions on MMA’s largest stage by dethroning O’Malley contained in the Sphere this previous September. Whereas “Suga” eyes a shot at redemption in his return from harm subsequent March or April, Umar Nurmagomedov sits because the consensus primary contender.
Regardless of the Georgian’s ongoing makes an attempt to push that matchup away, the Dagestani has loads of assist in the case of his declare to a possibility, together with from Cormier.
Throughout a current episode of his Good Man/Unhealthy Man present alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier pointed to Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov because the logical subsequent title combat within the bantamweight division.
And when it comes to how the remainder of the highest names ought to be matched up, “DC” has some concepts for that too.
“There’s a bunch of fellows at 135 that must be matched up. So I figured, it’s time for some matchmaking,” Cormier started. “For the title…straightforward, Merab vs. Umar. … Then I am going Yan vs. Sandhagen (2) as my second combat, Chael. As a result of then it offers you a transparent primary contender.
“Sean O’Malley wants a giant combat, proper? You understand who else wants a giant combat? Henry Cejudo. These guys have a beef, a straightforward beef to promote…I say put Sean O’Malley in there with the previous champion Henry Cejudo. Meaning greater than a win over Cory Sandhagen,” Cormier continued. “After that, I’m going Figgy (Deiveson Figueiredo) vs. Dominick Cruz. And my final one, Chael, we’ve bought to offer Mario Bautista an opportunity. … I’m giving him (Marlon) ‘Chito’ Vera.”
It stays to be seen whether or not or not the UFC higher-ups will share Cormier’s view of the division. For now, it doesn’t seem the champ himself does.
Having beforehand pointed to others as extra worthy of difficult for his gold than Nurmagomedov, Dvalishvili most just lately referred to as for a rematch with Yan following “No Mercy’s” choice win over Figueiredo in Macau final weekend.
Learn Extra: Sean O’Malley Slams Merab Dvalishvili Pushing For Petr Yan Rematch: ‘Sh*tting Himself Terrified Of Umar’
