A former UFC champion is making a strong case to be part of a major upcoming White House event.
Donald Trump recently announced a UFC fight will be hosted at the White House this summer, with plans set for a special celebration in Washington, D.C., next year. The event is scheduled for June 14th, and UFC president Dana White promises it will be a “spectacular” show, likely the biggest in UFC history.
To deliver on this promise, the event needs high-profile fights on the White House lawn. However, a former champion believes the promotion is running low on big-name fighters to feature.
Although the UFC has many stars ready for the White House event, some key fighters may be unable to participate. Conor McGregor’s return remains uncertain, Jon Jones is not expected to come back, Alex Pereira recently said he won’t fight in D.C., and Ilia Topria is on hiatus due to personal reasons.
Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley discussed his potential absence on the Red Hawk Summary Podcast with Coach Tim Welch. He noted that the White House cards have to be grand, but big names like Conor, Jon Jones, or Pereira may not be available. He claimed he’s still one of the biggest names despite two recent losses, and believes the UFC needs him and his “Suga” show to pull off the event.
Additionally, Daniel Cormier believes UFC could choose Sean O’Malley over Merab Dvalishvili to challenge bantamweight champion Petr Yan. Although Yan recently defeated Dvalishvili, securing his title, Cormier suggests the UFC might opt for a more profitable rematch between O’Malley and Yan. Cormier mentioned the business aspect could favor O’Malley, who is a bigger star and could generate more excitement in a title fight.
Fan Take: This development is crucial for fight fans as it highlights the UFC’s challenge in assembling blockbuster fight cards for major events like the White House show. If Sean O’Malley steps up as the headline star, it could redefine promotional strategies and impact future championship matchups in the bantamweight division.
