‘He’s doing an important job’

Sean O’Malley has Ilia Topuria’s respect.

Bantamweight champion O’Malley referred to as out featherweight champ Topuria after he battered Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March. Topuria dismissed the callout, telling O’Malley to give attention to Merab Dvalishvili first.

Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) hasn’t minced his phrases in relation to many UFC fighters, however surprisingly had some good issues to say about O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC). He acknowledges “The Suga Present’s” star energy and expertise.

“He’s doing an important, wonderful job,” Topuria informed Sportskeeda of O’Malley. “He’s turning into greater and larger within the sport. He’s an enormous star in america. At the same time as a fighter, I like his combat model, too – I like his actions. All the things he does, he’s a showman. I like him. he’s doing an important job.”

Topuria is at present centered on defending his title towards Max Holloway, then a dream combat with Conor McGregor on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Spain. O’Malley has shifted his give attention to Topuria’s good pal and fellow Georgian Dvalishvili for his subsequent title protection.

“El Matador” recollects a short, however cordial encounter with O’Malley final month.

“We simply spoke as soon as at UFC 300,” Topuria mentioned. “We had a brief dialog. We spoke for about one minute, however he was good to me. He was good.”