"He did enough to win"– UFC lightweight contender shares his thoughts on the Sean O'Malley vs. Petr Yan controversy
The aftermath of Sean O'Malley's war against Petr Yan at UFC 280 has been less than pleasant. Countless fans believe the judges got the result wrong, and now UFC lightweight, Renato Moicano, has weighed in.
Heading into the clash at UFC 280, many doubted 'Sugar's ability to make the fight competitive against a man considered by many to be the greatest bantamweight alive. Although there is still controversy surrounding the decision, the 28-year-old silenced the doubters as he proved he belongs alongside the best at 135lbs.
Following the bout, Renato Moicano addressed the controversial decision and gave his honest opinion:
"That fight was a great fight. I was not expecting Sean [O'Malley] to be [at] this level of striking, he's one of the best strikers. But I feel Yan got robbed in this one, you know, because I feel he did enough to win. He secured takedowns, he had control, but I don't know. It was a great performance by both, it was a great fight."
The Brazilian lightweight has agreed with many others who insist that 'Sugar' shouldn't have been victorious, even though he put on a great display.
Since losing, Petr Yan has aired his frustration with the outcome and has threatened to leave the UFC behind as he feels he is not being treated well by the promotion.
Check out what Renato Moicano had to say about the bantamweight controversy in the video below:
Following the controversy, what should be next for 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley?
During the UFC 280 post-fight press conference, the company president, Dana White, claimed that Henry Cejudo could be next in line for Aljamain Sterling's throne. Before UFC 280 went down, the Yan-O'Malley matchup was largely seen as the No.1-contender bout, but White's claims seem to leave the 'Sugar' out in the cold. However, all is not yet lost for the 16-1-1 prospect.
If Sean O'Malley isn't given a title shot, there are two viable matchups that fans would love to see unfold.
An instant rematch against Yan with title implications on the line would provide O'Malley with an opportunity to prove himself beyond doubt. Also, a grudge match against the No.- 4 ranked bantamweight Marlon Vera sounds like music to fight fans' ears. It'll also enable Sean O'Malley to avenge his only loss from two years ago.