logo
Henry Cejudo questions quality of Sean O'Malley's camp for UFC 316: 'Maybe he's cheap'

Henry Cejudo questions quality of Sean O'Malley's camp for UFC 316: 'Maybe he's cheap'

USA Today05-06-2025

Henry Cejudo questions quality of Sean O'Malley's camp for UFC 316: 'Maybe he's cheap'
The rumblings Henry Cejudo heard about Sean O'Malley's UFC 316 training camp is making him confidently pick against him.
After losing his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) at UFC 306, O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will get an opportunity to reclaim his belt when the pair run things back in Saturday's main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
O'Malley entered his first fight against Dvalishvili with a hip injury which later required surgery. Despite the lifestyle changes O'Malley has made ahead of the rematch, Cejudo doesn't like what he's heard about his training camp.
"I think the biggest thing with O'Malley is, did he formulate his camp correctly?" Cejudo said on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Kamaru Usman. "There's a lot of birdies out there. I'm going to say it here on Pound 4 Pound: He's just working jiu-jitsu. He's not working his get-ups, his stand-ups. He's not investing in his camp. He's not bringing in guys for money. In Arizona, they have big mouths.
"It's true, it's 100 percent true. It (money) shouldn't be (an issue), but to him, he just wants to keep everything – I don't know, maybe he's cheap. He just wants to keep everything in house. When you do that, sh*t gets out there. That's the only reason why I know some of these things. People, listen to me: Bet the house, Merab Dvalishvili via damn decision, 50-45."
Dvalishvili won the first fight by unanimous decision, where he took O'Malley down six times and controlled him for more than 10 minutes. He is a sizable favorite to retain his title.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Milwaukee Bucks Wing Makes $9.4 Million Decision
Milwaukee Bucks Wing Makes $9.4 Million Decision

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Milwaukee Bucks Wing Makes $9.4 Million Decision

Milwaukee Bucks Wing Makes $9.4 Million Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Of all the decisions the Milwaukee Bucks will have to make in the coming weeks, the future of Pat Connaughton was not the one keeping the front office up at night. But Connaughton was undoubtedly a piece of the team's immediate financial puzzle, as he had a few days remaining to make a decision on the $9.4 million player option on his contract for 2025-26. Advertisement Considering that, at age 32, Connaughton had all but fallen out of the Bucks' rotation this season, playing 41 games and averaging 14.7 minutes--his fewest since 2018, his third year in the NBA--there was probably little out there on the free-agent market for him beyond a veteran's minimum or a ticket to Europe. Picking up the $9.4 million option was a no-brainer. On Sunday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Connaughton would, in fact, pick up that option. The question for the Bucks will be, what happens from here? Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton (24) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Even with the option for Connaughton, ESPN reported that the Bucks are still far enough below the luxury tax's first apron to be able to add a player with a full mid-level exception, worth more than $14 million. Advertisement Everything the Bucks do this offseason will be seen, of course, through the prism of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his situation with the team. As of now, there is no pressure to move Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, and the presumption is that he will be back with the Bucks next season. That could change. But until it does, the Bucks are expected to be aggressive with its mid-level money and perhaps on the trade market--which could include using Connaughton's salary as part of a package to upgrade the roster. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.

Analyst Not Sold On Bills As Super Bowl Threat
Analyst Not Sold On Bills As Super Bowl Threat

Yahoo

time37 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Analyst Not Sold On Bills As Super Bowl Threat

Analyst Not Sold On Bills As Super Bowl Threat originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We are at the stage of the offseason where some are picking their Super Bowl favorites, and many have the Buffalo Bills as one team that could easily claim the Lombardi Trophy. Advertisement Josh Allen is the defending MVP, the offseason acquisitions on both sides of the ball, plus a weak division, Buffalo looks likely to be the AFC East bully yet again. However, the Bills making the playoffs is low-hanging fruit and is the bare minimum expected. Buffalo is a genuine Super Bowl contender. But the big question is can the Bills actually win it? For NFL analyst and former linebacker Bart Scott, the AFC is too loaded. 'First of all, they need to make sure that James Cook is happy, but so many other obstacles in his way,' Scott said on ESPN's GetUp. 'Joe Burrow can get his team to the postseason, but also Lamar Jackson, so I'm going to say no, the field is too strong, if I had to pick, I'll pick the field.' Dec 8, 2019; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) meets Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) at mid-field after a game at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesMark Konezny-Imagn Images The AFC does have more than its fair share of contenders. Advertisement The Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens are the top three, and then we have the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers as improvers. There are quite a few teams the Bills are facing, but if we're being honest, only one team really stands out, and it's Kansas City. Buffalo, when the playoffs roll around, just can't beat Patrick Mahomes, and in its last four postseason games, it is 0-4. That needs to change, but also the Ravens and Bengals loom large, so there won't be any shortage of tough challengers the Bills will need to overcome if they are to claim their first-ever Super Bowl in 2025. Advertisement Related: Josh Allen Defends Second-Year Bills' Receiver: 'Very Smooth' Related: Bills Given Top Billing in Analyst's Bold Predictions This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.

Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move
Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move

Alex Pereira Has a Clear Answer on a Potential Heavyweight Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Once a dominant force in the light heavyweight division, Alex Pereira's momentum was halted at UFC 313. Riding a five-fight win streak and looking like a man possessed, the former champion collided with Magomed Ankalaev in a brutal chess match that ended with Pereira losing his belt. Now, the question hanging in the air: is 'Poatan' planning to take his power up to Heavyweight? Advertisement After the loss, Pereira didn't rush back into the spotlight. Instead, he embraced a much-needed reset—time off that may have been as tactical as it was personal. In a recent interview with MMAFightingSBN, the Brazilian powerhouse pulled back the curtain on where his head's at—and what his body's doing. Alex PereiraGetty Images One detail stood out: he recently weighed in at a massive 240 pounds—and when asked directly whether that meant a move to heavyweight was in the cards, the speculation reached a boiling point. That number alone sparked heavy whispers about a move up, especially with Jon Jones still stuck on the sidelines. When asked about the current state of the division and the possibility of Jones being stripped, Pereira didn't hold back: 'Let those guys kill each other in that [heavyweight] class. Right now I'm just focusing on light heavyweight.' 'My focus right now is fighting Ankalaev, get my belt back, and then we see what happens next.' Advertisement When asked about a return date, Pereira made it clear he's ready whenever: 'September... October makes no difference—I want to fight.' Despite all the heavyweight chatter, Pereira sounds like a man on a mission—one with unfinished business at 205. A rematch with Ankalaev isn't just about redemption; it's about restoring what he believes is rightfully his. And here's where things get interesting: the UFC doesn't have a pay-per-view scheduled for September. But with two PPVs planned for October, Pereira may be circling a date—and his shot at gold—sooner than we think. Related: Jon Jones Responds to Dana White's Deadline with Blunt Update Related: UFC Signs Former PFL Heavyweight Champion in Strategic Roster Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store