Is Sean O'Malley Underrated Or Overrated?

After the originally scheduled showdown between UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley and Louis Smolka fell apart due to Smolka’s withdrawal, the opening was there for any of the roster’s bantamweight to step up and attempt to take one of the most desirable scalps in the division.

And though I expected there to be at least some difficulty in procuring an opponent just ten days out from the event - the fact that it was a promotional newcomer, Kris Moutinho, who was picked and not a test more fitting of O’Malley’s current standing - was something of a surprise.

And look, we have seen situations like this before - most notably with Alexander Hernandez taking a three-week short-notice UFC debut against Beniel Dariush at UFC 222 - a fight he actually won by first round knockout.

And also with Lando Vannata - who stepped up on around two weeks notice to take on the then-number 3 ranked Tony Ferguson - in a fight that saw him give El Cucuy quite a number of close calls.

So it’s not completely insane to see the UFC forced to pick a name from outside of their roster - given the short-notice and the weight-cut that a natural 135lb fighter would be forced to undertake - not to mention the risks that would come with fighting a guy as specialised as O’Malley