The pound-for-pound debate heated up recently after Alex Pereira leapfrogged Jon Jones to claim the 2nd spot. Nonetheless, Islam Makhachev still reigns supreme on the list. However, Joe Rogan recently picked the most well-rounded fighter in MMA right now, and it’s not a fighter from the top 5 of the UFC’s P4P rankings.
The famous commentator/podcaster/comedian made his pick in the latest episode of his podcast, which featured Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. In a time when Dana White vehemently supported Jon Jones as the best fighter pound-for-pound fighter, Rogan’s pick for someone not named Jones or Makhachev as the most well-rounded fighter was surprising.
Joe Rogan Picks UFC No. 6 On P4P Rankings As Most Well-Rounded Fighter
After Makhachev, Pereira, and Jones, Leon Edwards and Ilia Topuria round out the top 5 of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. However, when Rampage Jackson asked Rogan who he thought was the most well-rounded MMA fighter, the 56-year-old gave a fascinating answer.
“Might be Sean O’Malley. Sean O’Malley is not the best wrestler, but his takedown defense is really good because he survived against Aljamain. Aljamain couldn’t take him down, and Sean can knock anybody out with one shot. He even submitted Takori Gomi in a Jiu-Jitsu match, showing his Jiu-Jitsu is real. Sean can do everything and he’s just a relentless, tireless worker,” Rogan said.
One could not fault Joe Rogan for his opinion. After all, O’Malley is sixth in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Moreover, the sole defeat in his MMA career was to Marlon Vera due to a peroneal nerve injury. Notably, he avenged the loss dominantly in the rematch, which was also the first title defense of ‘Suga.’
Next up for O’Malley is Merab Dvalishvili, who is on a 10-fight winning streak, with the last four coming against ex-UFC champs. Moreover, Rogan believes the Georgian is stylistically the worst matchup for the 29-year-old American. The podcaster also expressed his will to see the fight between ‘Suga’ and Cory ‘Sandman’ Sandhagen.
Nevertheless, Joe Rogan’s opinion might raise eyebrows, with Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev above Sean O’Malley in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old has already defeated the likes of Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Marlon Vera. Moreover, if he defeats Dvalishvili, Rogan’s claim will certainly have more validity!
Joe Rogan recently stirred up the pound-for-pound debate by picking someone outside of the top 5 UFC rankings as the most well-rounded MMA fighter right now. Despite Islam Makhachev, Alex Pereira, and Jon Jones holding the top spots, Rogan’s choice was surprising to many.
Rogan’s pick for the most well-rounded fighter was none other than Sean O’Malley, who currently sits at number 6 in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. The 56-year-old pointed out O’Malley’s impressive takedown defense and knockout power as key factors in his decision.
O’Malley’s only loss in his MMA career came as a result of a peroneal nerve injury against Marlon Vera, a defeat he later avenged in dominant fashion. Up next for O’Malley is Merab Dvalishvili, a fighter on a 10-fight winning streak and a challenging matchup for the young American.
Despite being ranked below Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, O’Malley has already defeated top contenders like Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Marlon Vera. A win against Dvalishvili could further solidify Rogan’s belief in O’Malley’s well-rounded skill set.
Rogan also expressed interest in a potential matchup between O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen, highlighting the exciting possibilities for the rising star in the UFC.
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Source: CNN
