The UFC should keep Sean O'Malley at 135 if he beats Merab Dvalishvili: The potential consequences of another double champion

Sean O'Malley has made his plans clear. If he beats Merab Dvalishvili to defend his bantamweight title at UFC 306, he will shift his focus toward the featherweight division, where he is determined to challenge the resident 145-pound champion, be it Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway after UFC 308.

While the idea of crowning another Conor McGregor, especially given how 'Sugar' has clearly mapped his career after the Irishman, is tempting, the promotion should steer clear of it. It is not the trip to superstardom that the UFC might think it is. In fact, it could backfire on the promotion.

The UFC is best served by keeping O'Malley at bantamweight, defending his title, and building his name as the world's best 135-pounder. Here's why.

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The UFC should be wary of Sean O'Malley turning into another Conor McGregor

As much as Sean O'Malley has emerged as one of the promotion's biggest stars in recent years, an ascension to two-division championship status may not necessarily benefit the UFC. This isn't always the case when a champion eyes a second title in the division above or even below, but in this case, it is.

'Sugar' idolized Conor McGregor and has made it as clear as day that he hopes to emulate the Irishman's career. And much like 'The Notorious' went on to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match after dethroning Eddie Alvarez as lightweight champion, 'Sugar' wants to do so with Gervonta Davis.

"Moving up would be a massive, massive fight for the company, for the UFC. I want a boxing fight. I want to get a big boxing fight, I want Gervonta Davis, I want Ryan Garcia. I want a big boxing fight."

Check out Sean O'Malley's comments about boxing after possibly becoming a double champion (0:16):

After presumably beating either Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway for featherweight gold, O'Malley will take a detour into boxing. Unfortunately, both the UFC and the MMA fandom have seen how such crossover fights play out. O'Malley would almost certainly lose to the far superior boxer in 'Tank.'

While he'll pocket an absurd amount of money from the borderline guaranteed loss, which would likely be a knockout, his market value would be greatly diminished. The sight of its latest double champion out cold or unable to continue fighting will not do the UFC any favors.

McGregor's loss to Mayweather was easier to manage as it was a standing TKO, with 'The Notorious' even having pleaded with the referee to 'let him go down' instead. There will be no such option with Davis, who is as heavy-handed as boxers come.

Moreover, O'Malley's trip to boxing will leave two divisions in limbo. The UFC will have fewer title fights to book for pay-per-views in two of its most talent-rich weight classes during the time O'Malley will spend preparing for a Davis bout. This was the same dilemma the UFC dealt with with McGregor.

"These guys got sh*t loads of money, and it's hard to reel these guys back in."

Check out Dana White's comments about Conor McGregor's wealth (0:20):

Worse still, O'Malley may be less incentivized to return to the UFC if he earns a monster payday by boxing. This is, again, a dilemma the UFC has faced with McGregor, who reportedly earned around $100 million from boxing Mayweather. The issue could also be compounded by a possible injury.

If 'Sugar' were to seriously injure himself competing outside of the UFC, it would further delay his return to the octagon. This was the reason behind the promotion's refusal to let Anderson Silva box Roy Jones Jr. years ago. To prevent a slew of potential consequences, the UFC should keep O'Malley at bantamweight.

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A Sean O'Malley featherweight title win diminishes the promotion's star power

While Sean O'Malley is indeed a star, he has also benefitted tremendously from featuring on mega cards stacked with blockbuster matchups from top to bottom. It is difficult to determine exactly where his star power stands, which ex-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has keenly pointed out.

Thus, he is no so big a draw that destroying the market value of another potential star is justified. Ilia Topuria is an interesting fighter, and there is no guarantee that he will beat Max Holloway at UFC 308, or that 'Sugar' will beat him if he gets past Holloway.

However, if O'Malley were to hypothetically beat Topuria, it would diminish him. Part of his allure is his undefeated status, and trading two potential stars for one in O'Malley doesn't make much sense. This is especially true when the possibilities with Topuria are taken into account.

Check out Ilia Topuria's homecoming at the Santiago Bernabeu:

'El Matador' is the first UFC champion of two nations: Spain and Georgia. He can tap into the European like no other at the moment. He was given a hero's welcome at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain, and his UFC 298 title win over Alexander Volkanovski galvanized Georgian crowds in public squares.

The European market is there for the taking, but only if Topuria remains champion. If he is to lose his next fight, it should not be to a champion from a different division.