MIAMI -- Sean O'Malley has a problem, but it's the kind of problem that 600 or so other UFC fighters wish they had to confront.
After yet another brilliant performance in a one-sided rout of Marlon Vera in their Saturday for bantamweight titlein the main event of UFC 299 at an electric The Kaseya Center, O'Malley called out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
If that bout is made, it would be one of the greatest striking match-ups in the history of the UFC. Both are fundamentally sound, both carry significant power and each man has deadly precision on his shots and a varied attack.
The problem with that fight, though, as good as it is, is twofold. First is the presence of Merab Dvalishvili, the Georgian cardio machine whose 10-fight winning streak has included Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo.
Dvalishvili isn't just winning, he's running roughshod over the opposition, even the legends like Aldo and Cejudo.
And then, UFC CEO Dana White isn't a fan of the fight at the time being given Saturday's win was O'Malley's first defense and that Topuria just won the title last month.
"I don't know about moving divisions," White said. "You know how I feel about that. And Topuria was talking about not fighting anyone in the division after just winning the title. That's crazy talk."
But after he drew a sell-out crowd of 19,165, which paid a gate of $14.14 million to watch, what's not crazy talk is any discussion about O'Malley's star power. It's clear O'Malley is already one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport.
The win over Vera was just his first title defense, so he's only going to get bigger, even if he doesn't see Topuria for a while. That fight will just be that much more lucrative as well as significant if they both keep winning before they eventually, or inevitably, square off.
O'Malley was noncommittal about his next opponent and said he wanted to talk with his management and the UFC before making a decision, but after repeated questions about it he conceded, "There's a very good possibility that Merab will be next."
That will be a significant, too, as Dvalishvili has not only looked great in the Octagon but he's begun to build a social media following.
White, though, had no qualms about clarifying Saturday's event.
"This was the biggest bantamweight fight of all-time, based on energy, excitement, gate and pay-per-view," White said. "It's by far the biggest fight ever in the bantamweight division."
It was a phenomenal show with great fights up and down the card, but the best was saved for last. O'Malley isn't just the best in the bantamweight division, but his quickness, his precision punching, his fight IQ and his fundamentals make him one of the best at any weight.
He tore Vera apart, and it was only Vera's insane toughness and will to win that kept him from being steamrolled. O'Malley hit him with a pair of knees in the second round that might have knocked out a heavyweight. Vera staggered, but quickly got back into the fight.
"I felt something in his face break," O'Malley said. "I don't know if it was his nose or cheek. I felt something snap."
The only trouble he had came near the end of the bout. The crowd was roaring enthusiastically throughout, some chanting O'Malley's name and chanting "USA! USA!" Others were roaring Vera's name.
O'Malley is the consummate showman and he wanted to put the bow on it and get the finish. And when he did, he took a risk he didn't need to and Vera drilled him in the solar plexus. O'Malley felt it and when the bell rang to end the bout, he didn't parade around with his arms in the air. He went over and sat on the canvas.
His coach, Tom Welch, urged him not to stay in the pocket in front of Vera as the clock wound down. But O'Malley wanted the finish and wound up paying for it.
"I wanted that finish sooooo bad and I thought I could sit in the pocket and get it," O'Malley said.
That was about the only thing he didn't do right on Saturday. He aggravated an old injury on his right foot which previously had surgery and was put into a walking boot for precautionary reasons. He said he didn't think it was a big deal and predicted he'd be back to training in a few weeks.
But it was a huge week for him and probably a reminder for the fan base of what's to come. He was allowed to wear pink shorts, and said he wants to keep it up. So get used to those shorts and that rainbow hair, because O'Malley is going to be around for a long time.
UFC bantamweight champion Suga Sean O'Malley fires a right at challenger Marlon Vera.