Cody Stamann, like many bantamweights, was hoping they will fight Sean O’Malley at UFC 264.
On Tuesday, it was revealed Louis Smolka was out of his fight against O’Malley and an opponent was sought after. Stamann immediately called him out and he now went further into why he wants the fight and he says jealousy plays a role.
“I haven’t exactly had the easiest run in the UFC, and I’m super jealous and envious of the run he’s had,” Stamann told MMA Junkie Radio. “I haven’t gotten those fights. I haven’t gotten those fights where you get guys on a skid, or you get a name on his way out. I’ve just gotten anybody that wins fights, six fights in a row, I’m like the gatekeeper in the rankings, like I gotta go fight that guy. If a guy goes on a huge streak and he wins a bunch and he’s the next big thing, that’s the guy I have to fight. I’ve been an underdog in almost all my UFC matchups, probably more so than anybody else in the bantamweight division, and sometimes I can pull it off.
“Recently I haven’t been able to, and a guy like Sean O’Malley would just be the best of everything,” Stamann continued. “I think there’s a big financial reward in that fight, there’s so much hype around the kid about how great he is, but I look at these guys, and it’s like, who have they fought? Who have they fought that’s a top contender? Because the guys that are ranked are ranked for a reason, and it’s because they fought the best guys, and they’ve won. So you really gotta start looking at who people fight, not necessarily how well they’re doing against the entry-level guys in the UFC.”
Stamann certainly has a point that his UFC run has been much harder than O’Malley’s. But, “Suga” is a big draw and there is no question the UFC is trying to build him up.
Instead, the UFC has different plans for O’Malley. Sean O’Malley will take on UFC newcomer Kris Moutinho, an unlikely opponent given the amount of call outs from UFC veterans.
Moutinho is coming off a 2 fight win streak, with his most recent win at CFFC 96, defeating Andrew Salas via arm-triangle.
