Tag: Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley targets Marlon Vera rematch as first championship defence ahead of UFC 292 return

Sean O'Malley welcomes title rematch with Marlon Vera ahead of UFC 292Sean O’Malley is looking to avenge his only career loss as his first defence as champion. O’Malley is set to challenge Aljamain Sterling for his bantamweight title in the headlining bout of UFC 292 on August 19. ‘Sugar’, will look to fulfil the success that many tipped him for when he first burst onto the […]

Sean O'Malley welcomes title rematch with Marlon Vera ahead of UFC 292

Sean O’Malley is looking to avenge his only career loss as his first defence as champion.

O’Malley is set to challenge Aljamain Sterling for his bantamweight title in the headlining bout of UFC 292 on August 19. ‘Sugar’, will look to fulfil the success that many tipped him for when he first burst onto the scene.

While O’Malley certainly possess a high-level skillset, arguably his greatest weapon his the confidence and self-belief that he has. The 28-year-old has always believed that he would reach the summit of the sport, at times appearing arrogant and cocky, O’Malley has not been one to shy away from outlining the future.

Sean O’Malley wants Marlon Vera rematch

So it wouldn’t be surprising that O’Malley is already planning ahead, and wants his first defence of the 135lb title to be against Marlon Vera. Vera handed O’Malley his only career defeat at UFC 252 back in 2020.

“I saw Chito did an interview, with I think it was The Schmo, saying if he beats Pedro [Munhoz] and I beat Aljo, [we could fight at] MSG in November. I would say, whoa, whoa, whoa, December on Conor [McGregor] vs. [Michael] Chandler. Me vs. Chito rematch,” said O’Malley. (H/T MiddleEasy)

However, O’Malley is aware that he has a huge task at hand in Sterling. The reigning champion will be looking to successfully defend his title for the fourth time against O’Malley after beating Henry Cejudo earlier this year.

“Can’t look past Aljo, obviously,” O’Malley said. “Dude is a beast, best bantamweight currently in the world. We’re locked in, been locked in for a long time. This has been the longest camp. This is the first time I felt like I haven’t gotten burnt out in camp, which is weird.”

Who wins the rematch, Sean O’Malley or Marlon Vera?

Sean O’Malley backs Israel Adesanya in racially-Charged spat with Dricus du Plessis: ‘I wish I could say that’

Sean O'Malley defends Israel Adesanya amid n-word debacle I wish I could say that UFC 290Outspoken bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley has defended middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya in his heated rivalry with Dricus du Plessis – including the racially-charged language the City Kickboxing striker has used in the past, going as far as claiming he wished he “could say that”. O’Malley, the current number two ranked bantamweight contender, is slated for […]

Sean O'Malley defends Israel Adesanya amid n-word debacle I wish I could say that UFC 290

Outspoken bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley has defended middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya in his heated rivalry with Dricus du Plessis – including the racially-charged language the City Kickboxing striker has used in the past, going as far as claiming he wished he “could say that”.

O’Malley, the current number two ranked bantamweight contender, is slated for his first title challenge under the banner of the Dana White-led promotion later this summer, returning atop a UFC 292 pay-per-view card in August, taking on bantamweight kingpin, Aljamain Sterling.

Sidelined sinct October of last year, Montana native, Sean O’Malley earned his title challenge with a close decision win over common-foe and former undisputed champion, Petr Yan in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As for Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, is expected to take on South African talent, du Plessis next – potentially at UFC 293 in September in a return to Sydney, Australia.

Joining the Pretoria native inside the Octagon following his win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 last weekend, Adesanya, who had previously referred to du Plessis as a “cracker”, referred to him with the N-word during their Octagon face-off – leading to a slew of criticizm from fans and others in the mixed martial arts community.

Sean O’Malley has defended Israel Adesanya following his actions at UFC 290

However, according to O’Malley, the Dana White’s Contender Series product claimed he “loved” the interaction between Adesanya and du Plessis, and claimed he “wished I [he] could say that”.

“I loved it,” Sean O’Malley said on his podcast. “I thought it was sweet. I wish I could say… but I thought it was f*cking awesome – I thought it was awesome… Call him (Dricus du Plessis) the n-word. I was hoping [du Plessis] said, ‘What?’” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Slated to headline UFC 292 in August, O’Malley features at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, tackling Sterling for undisputed bantamweight spoils. 

Jon Anik hopes to see Sean O’Malley roll with Georges St-Pierre at UFC Fight Pass Invitational event this December

Sean O'MalleyJon Anik believes No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley would make an intriguing opponent for Georges St-Pierre, who will make his triumphant return to the mat later this year. ‘Rush’ will head back into the world of combat sports this winter as the general consensus welterweight GOAT headlines a UFC Fight Pass Invitational […]

Sean O'Malley

Jon Anik believes No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley would make an intriguing opponent for Georges St-Pierre, who will make his triumphant return to the mat later this year.

‘Rush’ will head back into the world of combat sports this winter as the general consensus welterweight GOAT headlines a UFC Fight Pass Invitational event on December 14. GSP is slated to compete in a no-gi jiu-jitsu match, but thus far no opponent has been announced. Sharing his thoughts on who could step into the spotlight with St-Pierre, UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik suggested none other than 135-pound fan favorite Sean O’Malley.

“There are a lot of willing and able grapplers out there. I don’t know – maybe ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley,” Anik told reporters Thursday on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “How about that? He’s competed before, Quintet Ultra against Gilbert Melendez. It was very competitive, a little bit of a size discrepancy. ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley, Georges St-Pierre, under the lights in December, UFC Fight Pass Invitational, let’s go!”

Georges St-Pierre dominated the welterweight division for nearly a decade, capturing the 170-pound crown on two separate occasions, and is a one-time interim titleholder. Walking away from the sport in 2013 following a split decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, GSP returned four years later to challenge Michael Bisping for the middleweight championship. St-Pierre scored a third-round submission over ‘The Count’ to become a two-division UFC titleholder. ‘Rush’ retired shortly after, vacating the title and riding off into the sunset as one of the most celebrated fighters in all of mixed martial arts.

Sean O’Malley is Gearing Up for His First UFC Title Opportunity

Currently, GSP’s proposed opponent, Sean O’Malley, is preparing for his first world title opportunity as he is set to square off with reigning bantamweight world champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292. Emanating from TD Garden in Boston, Mass., the ‘Funk Master’ will make a relatively quick turnaround after scoring a closely contested split decision against Henry Cejudo in May.

“I am a native Bostonian, so it’s hard for me to not center on Aug. 19, UFC 292 in Boston, Massachusetts,” Anik continued. “There’s so many different interesting storylines leading into that pay-per-view, chief among them, the (bantamweight) champion Aljamain Sterling is still battling injuries. I saw him at the UFC PI (Wednesday) and this is not at all happening on his terms. It’s just a very interesting storyline leading up to that main event. So I do have my eyes on UFC 292. (And) I think we’re all fascinated to see exactly what the headlining act is going to be for UFC 293 in Sydney” (h/t Yahoo! News).

Sean O’Malley earned his shot at the bantamweight title following his own split-decision win over former champion Petr Yan at UFC 280 last year.

Aljamain Sterling voices concern ahead of UFC 292 return: ‘I’m going to fight literally against my will’

Aljamain Sterling claims he's fighting against his own will at UFC 292Slated to headline UFC 292 in his return to the Octagon in August, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has made no bones regarding his qualms with the coming together of his title fight with Sean O’Malley – insisting he is fighting against his will this summer. Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, has been booked […]

Aljamain Sterling claims he's fighting against his own will at UFC 292

Slated to headline UFC 292 in his return to the Octagon in August, undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling has made no bones regarding his qualms with the coming together of his title fight with Sean O’Malley – insisting he is fighting against his will this summer.

Sterling, the current undisputed bantamweight champion, has been booked to headline on August 19. at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts – taking on the number two ranked bantamweight contender, O’Malley, as he attempts to defend his crown for the fourth occasion.

Featuring just earlier this year in May, Sterling took home a record-setting third successful bantamweight title defense, besting the returning former two-division champion, Henry Cejudo in a close, split decision triumph in New Jersey at UFC 288.

Aljamain Sterling says he’s fighting against his will at UFC 292 in August

Making his issues with UFC president, Dana White as well as the booking of his return on such short-notice against Montana native, O’Malley well known, Serra-Longo MMA staple, Sterling, has claimed that when he competes later this summer, he will be doing so against his own will.

“People don’t understand how much time I actually put into this sport,” Aljamain Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “Sometimes you could get a little burned out. Sometimes that can take a lot out of you actually. That’s why, after this fight, I had so much things with Henry (Cejudo), so many things planned out, that I just wanted to decompress and stop thinking about fighting for once because I do so much to get to the fight and prep myself to mentally get ready for battle”

“I had that just kind of ripped from underneath my legs,” Aljamain Sterling continued. “Now, I’m like, ‘Okay, this time you motherf*ckers are not doing this to me again.’ I’m going to fight, even though it’s literally against my will. People can say whatever – if Dana (White) were to hear this, Hunter (Campbell) were to hear this, they would say, ‘We’re not making him do anything.’ Let’s be real here, bro. Come on, dude – you kind of are. Let’s call a spade a spade.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Ahead of his bantamweight title return to boot, Sterling confirmed he will likely make a move to the featherweight limit off the back of UFC 292, citing a continually draining weight cut which has plagued him for some time. 

Sean O’Malley expects to land pound for pound number one slot with UFC 292 title win: ‘I hop the line’

Sean O'Malley calls for pound for pound top spot at UFC 292 I hop the lineSlated to headline UFC 292 next month in his premiere championship outing under the banner of the promotion, surging bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley claims with a victory over current division champion, Aljamain Sterling – he should be catapulted to the number one rank in the official pound-for-pound rankings. O’Malley, the current number two ranked bantamweight […]

Sean O'Malley calls for pound for pound top spot at UFC 292 I hop the line

Slated to headline UFC 292 next month in his premiere championship outing under the banner of the promotion, surging bantamweight contender, Sean O’Malley claims with a victory over current division champion, Aljamain Sterling – he should be catapulted to the number one rank in the official pound-for-pound rankings.

O’Malley, the current number two ranked bantamweight contender, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 280 back in October of last year, landing a close, unanimous decision win over former undisputed champion and common-opponent, Petr Yan.

In the midst of a five-fight undefeated steak, Dana White’s Contender Series product, O’Malley is slated to compete for Octagon spoils for the first time during his UFC tenure – taking on the aforenoted, Sterling in August at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sean O’Malley believes he should land P4P top spot with UFC 292 title win

And remaining supremely confident of success against the dominant titleholder, Sterling, O’Malley also maintains that if he topples the Uniondale favorite in August, he should receive the number one rank in the official pound-for-pound list.

“What’s Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) ranked pound-for-pound? He’s gotta be up,” Sean O’Malley said on his podcast. “Top five right? He’s gotta be. Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) and Izzy (Israel Adesanya) are definitely up there. Jon Jones. Aljo’s defended the belt. I mean, who else has really been defending the belt that much? Leon (Edwards) defended it once. Jamahal Hill hasn’t had a chance to defend it. Izzy’s obviously up there. Islam (Makhachev) , definitely up there.”

“I feel like you gotta give Aljo above Charles (Oliveira), just considering he’s champ and he’s defended the belt three times,” Sean O’Malley continued. “Number seven best pound-for-pound in the world? I win, I go straight to number one. I hop the line, you know what I do, baby. I win. I’m f*cking number one. You’ve seen that sh*t before. Watch me go from not ranked pound-for-pound – number one.” (H/T MMA Mania)

Sean O’Malley believes Henry Cejudo is done in the UFC: ‘He tried to come back, no one really cared’

Henry CejudoNo. 2 ranked bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley doesn’t expect to see Henry Cejudo back in the Octagon ever again. ‘Triple C’ made a comeback at UFC 288 on May 6, challenging reigning 135-pound king Aljamain Sterling in an entertaining main event matchup. After 25 minutes of closely contested action, Sterling escaped with his title intact […]

Henry Cejudo

No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley doesn’t expect to see Henry Cejudo back in the Octagon ever again.

‘Triple C’ made a comeback at UFC 288 on May 6, challenging reigning 135-pound king Aljamain Sterling in an entertaining main event matchup. After 25 minutes of closely contested action, Sterling escaped with his title intact via a split decision. Immediately following the fight, an understandably dejected Cejudo seemed ready to resume his retirement before signing on the dotted line for a fight with division standout Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC 292 in August.

Unfortunately, that fight is no longer on the docket as a shoulder injury has seemingly sidelined Cejudo for the next six-to-eight weeks.

During a recent episode of his Timbo Sugar Show podcast on YouTube, Sean O’Malley suggested that fans have seen the last of Henry Cejudo inside the Octagon following his failed attempt to regain the bantamweight world title and subsequent injury.

“I think Henry is done. Done, he’s retired, he’s not coming back,” O’Malley said. “He tried to come back, no one really cared. He got paid a little bit of money. I don’t think (he’ll be back). A shoulder injury, so that must have been pretty bad if he couldn’t fight. And he’s already 36, right? Something like that” (h/t MMA News).

Sean O’Malley Looks to Accomplish What Henry Cejudo Could Not

Sean O’Malley will be in action on August 19 when the promotion heads back to Boston for UFC 292. ‘Sugar’ will step into the main event spotlight as he challenges Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight crown. O’Malley earned his first title opportunity with a split decision win over former champion Petr Yan in October. By the time O’Malley attempts to cash in, it will have been nearly a year removed from his last appearance inside the Octagon.

During that same timeframe, Aljamain Sterling will have stepped into the cage for the third time come UFC 292, having already defeated former champions T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo. His UFC 288 scrap with ‘Triple C’ will have only been in the books for three months by the time he goes toe-to-toe with Sean O’Malley in Beantown.