T.J. Dillashaw: Umar Nurmagomedov's Star Power Falls Short for UFC Title Shot
January 30, 2026
T.J. Dillashaw believes that Umar Nurmagomedov's path to the next UFC title shot may be hindered by his lack of star power. Since his close loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, Nurmagomedov has rebounded with back-to-back victories over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324. However, Dillashaw argues that Nurmagomedov's star power is not as strong as that of Sean O'Malley, who also won at UFC 324. O'Malley's close decision win over Song Yadong snapped a two-fight losing streak and earned him a potential title shot. Dillashaw explains that O'Malley's star power is a significant factor in his potential title shot, despite not having an overly impressive win.
"O'Malley needs more wins, and he needs to do it in a way that showcases his star power," Dillashaw said on the JAXXON Podcast. "I think Merab will take some time. I bet that's what's going to happen. O'Malley is a superstar, and people want to watch him fight. It's not just about what happens inside the cage."
Dillashaw highlights the contrast between O'Malley's star power and Nurmagomedov's, suggesting that Nurmagomedov needs to demonstrate his skills more dramatically to justify a title shot. "Umar doesn't have the same star power as O'Malley, so he needs to show it in the cage. He needs to demoralize his opponents and finish them to make a strong case for a title shot."
The current UFC bantamweight champion, Petr Yan, has options for his next fight, including a trilogy bout with Dvalishvili, a match against Nurmagomedov, or a rematch with O'Malley, who holds a controversial decision win over him at UFC 280.
