Umar Nurmagomedov Seeks More Wins to Earn Title Shot Amid O'Malley's Rise

Dagestani fighter must impress to overcome Sean O'Malley's star power, says former champion T.J. Dillashaw

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:15pm

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Umar Nurmagomedov dominated a former champion at UFC 324, but former bantamweight titleholder T.J. Dillashaw believes the Dagestani fighter may still need more impressive wins to earn a title shot. Dillashaw says Sean O'Malley's star power could put him ahead of Nurmagomedov in the title picture, even if O'Malley's recent win wasn't as dominant. Nurmagomedov acknowledges he must stay active and aggressive to force the UFC's hand, rather than waiting for the title picture to sort itself out.

Why it matters

The bantamweight division is in flux, with champion Petr Yan recovering from injury and Merab Dvalishvili angling for a rematch. This creates an opening, but Dillashaw believes the UFC may favor the more marketable Sean O'Malley over the dominant but quieter Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov must now balance his desire to stay active with the need to secure a title shot through increasingly impressive performances.

The details

Nurmagomedov dominated his UFC 324 fight against a former champion, winning every round on the scorecards. However, Dillashaw believes Nurmagomedov needs more than just wins - he needs to finish opponents in a way that captivates audiences. Dillashaw says Nurmagomedov can't afford any more clean decisions, and must 'go out there looking to demoralize someone and get the finish' to force the UFC's hand. Nurmagomedov acknowledges this, saying he will 'ask to fight' whoever is available, even if it's not a title shot, in order to stay active and dangerous.

  • Petr Yan is currently recovering from back surgery.
  • Merab Dvalishvili has been promised an immediate rematch once healthy.

The players

Umar Nurmagomedov

A Dagestani MMA fighter competing in the UFC's bantamweight division.

Sean O'Malley

A popular UFC bantamweight fighter who is seen as a rising star in the division.

T.J. Dillashaw

A former UFC bantamweight champion who provides analysis on the current state of the division.

Petr Yan

The current UFC bantamweight champion who is recovering from back surgery.

Merab Dvalishvili

A UFC bantamweight fighter who has been promised an immediate rematch for the title once healthy.

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What they’re saying

“He's (Umar) got to get some more wins, right? I think he's got to do it in an impressive fashion because we know probably O'Malley is going to get the title shot because I'd imagine Merab's going to probably take a little bit of time. I bet that's what's going to happen.”

— T.J. Dillashaw, Former UFC Bantamweight Champion (JAXXON Podcast)

“You know, you got a superstar in O'Malley, and people want to watch him fight. Again, it's not about what you do in the cage. What I'm saying about Umar is that like O'Malley's win wasn't like super impressive, right? It was good. He did a great job, and he got the win. But like he's going to get the title shot because of like his star power.”

— T.J. Dillashaw, Former UFC Bantamweight Champion (JAXXON Podcast)

“I tried to do my best. I tried to fight like a killer and go ahead, but when your opponent is not engaging, it's kind of hard to show a competitive fight.”

— Umar Nurmagomedov (UFC Post-Fight Press Conference)

“I don't know what's going to happen next, exactly, just one thing I know: I will ask to fight. It doesn't matter if it's for the title. It doesn't matter if it's going to be the winner of this fight, Yadong or O'Malley. I don't care. I really don't care. I just want to be active. I just want to fight.”

— Umar Nurmagomedov (UFC Post-Fight Press Conference)

What’s next

Umar Nurmagomedov plans to stay active and aggressive in his pursuit of a title shot, rather than waiting for the bantamweight title picture to sort itself out.

The takeaway

Umar Nurmagomedov's dominant win at UFC 324 may not be enough to earn him a title shot, as the UFC appears poised to favor the star power of Sean O'Malley over Nurmagomedov's quieter but more dominant style. To overcome this, Nurmagomedov must deliver increasingly impressive finishes to force the UFC's hand, rather than relying on wins alone.