Sean O’Malley is the UFC bantamweight champion.
But longtime rival, Marlon Vera, doesn’t want the glow of the gold to blind MMA fans from the champ’s checkered past, at least when it comes to his track record with both United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
O’Malley served a six-month USADA suspension after testing positive for Ostarine ahead of UFC 229, bringing an end to his Jose Quiñonez fight. Upon his return, “Suga” was rebooked against Vera at UFC 239 the following July but got benched by NSAC after banned substances “resurfaced.”
“If you’re looking for easier ways or like shortcuts, you won’t make it,” Vera told Michael Bisping (transcribed by MMA News). “I mean talking about that, this guy already tested positive before, I mean was it nothing? I don’t know. That’s why our first fight got canceled. He tested positive a few times and you know, they call it micro, it’s a little thing, but that little thing could be because you were cleaning yourself or because you’re an idiot and you don’t know how to read the [supplement] ingredients.”
It’s surprising anybody pops, considering how easy it has become to beat the tests.
O’Malley would eventually face Vera at UFC 252 in summer 2020, losing by way of first-round technical knockout. “Suga” will now have a chance to avenge that loss by rematching “Chito” atop the UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) event in March, which may (or may not) bring an end to the champ’s “sweet science” aspirations.
“He’s a talented guy, he can fight and everything, but I said it before and I will say it again: he won’t keep up in a hard fight,” Vera continued. “I’m gonna make him fight. I just know the moment we start fighting, I know what I did to be there, I know everything I’ve been through. I’m gonna get that belt, I’m gonna go through him, I’m gonna stop him, and I’m gonna be world champion. F—k you, I know you can fight, I get it, but I’m gonna do my job. I’ll be ready and we’ll meet in the center.”