Tim Welchs opinion on Sean O’Malley be a tough stylistic matchup for the featherweight champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t changed since UFC 308.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) finished a banner 2024 of knock out another division great in Max Holloway last Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Prior to UFC 308, Welch said he sees the “flat-footed” Topuria as a more favorable matchup for O’Malley than Holloway. O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has since lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, but Welch still believes a fight with Topuria could happen one day.

“I don’t think it’s over,” Welch said Submission Radio. “I mean, you never know what’s going to happen in the UFC. It’s not impossible that Volkanovski goes out and beats Ilia Topuria. I mean, it’s possible. So you never know, and I think stylistically Sean can give Ilia problem. He really could, but Ilia Topuria is a very, very scary fight.

“It’s not a fight you go in there and be like, ‘Oh yeah, man, we’re going out’ — it’s like you make a mistake with Ilia Topuria, and you’re going to be lights out, looking up at the ceiling or whatever. But it’s a scary, scary fight. But I think with his range and his speed and just his overall skill, I think that.”

After losing his title to Dvalishvili, O’Malley underwent surgery for a torn labrum in his left hip – an injury he entered the fight with. Dvalishvili seems willing to give O’Malley immediate revengeand if the pair work things back up, Welch is confident “The Suga Show” would make it.

“A healthy Sean, I think we go out and end up KO’ing Merab between some kind of scramble or something,” Welch said. “At times I think Sean will be able to catch his chin and put him down.”

For more on the card, visit the MMA Junkies event hub for UFC 308.