Tag: Sean O’Malley

Sterling Throws O’Malley’s ‘Not Big Enough’ Remark Right Back At Him

UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling has responded to Sean O’Malley’s claim that he and Petr Yan aren’t “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

Sterling is finally set to defend the 135-pound strap for the first time since winning it via di…

Sean O'Malley, Aljamain Sterling

UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling has responded to Sean O’Malley’s claim that he and Petr Yan aren’t “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

Sterling is finally set to defend the 135-pound strap for the first time since winning it via disqualification last March. He was initially scheduled to face interim titleholder and arch-rival Yan in a unification bout at UFC 272.

After Max Holloway withdrew from his trilogy with Alexander Volkanovski and the featherweight champ’s next defense was pushed back to UFC 273 in April, the bantamweight grudge match went with it.

Despite the bitter rivalry between the two elite 135lbers, which began with Sterling’s title crowning at UFC 259 and picked up when he withdrew from UFC 267 last October, the promotion was seemingly unwilling to have the two bantamweight titleholders main event the March PPV in the absence of Volkanovski’s 145-pound defense, something Yan believes Sterling is firmly at fault for.

During a recent episode of his podcast, #12-ranked contender O’Malley commented on that, suggesting the occupiers of his weight class’ gold simply aren’t big enough to headline a pay-per-view, something he believes is a problem given that bantamweight is one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC.

Sterling Tells O’Malley To “Fight Somebody, Bro”

In a fashion similar to what we’ve come to expect at 135 pounds, Sterling has now responded to “Sugar,” and he certainly didn’t mince his word.

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, “Funk Master” told O’Malley that if he wants to keep talking, he needs to fight a “real” contender, something he pointed out didn’t end well for the 27-year-old at UFC 252 in 2020.

“O’Malley’s gonna do what O’Malley does, which is talk,” said Sterling. “He talks a big game, but we come to find out that he’s a lot of talk, a lot of bark, and no bite. The last time he tried to bite off more than he can chew, what happened? He did the broke-leg dance…

Sean O'Malley
Sean O’Malley (Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa)

“So O’Malley, if you wanna keep talking like this, step up to the plate and fight somebody—I don’t want to say ‘good’—but fight somebody that’s a contender, a real contender so we can see how good he really is. Ricky Simon’s been calling him out, Merab’s [Dvalishvili] been calling him out, a lot of guys been calling him out—[Brian] Kelleher’s been calling him out. Fight somebody, bro. Fight somebody.”

Despite later admitting that O’Malley’s point wasn’t wholly wrong, Sterling claimed it’s on the UFC to create a card with him and Yan at the top worthy of the price tag, rather than relying on one bout to sell it to the fans. The bantamweight champ concluded by suggesting nobody would pay top dollar for just an O’Malley headliner.

“I do think O’Malley had a point in possibly saying that maybe we probably couldn’t headline a card by ourselves, but that’s not on us. That’s on the UFC to put together a fight card that’s worthy of customers to pay a $70 price tag to pay for,” added Sterling. “I think that’s pretty black and white. You can’t just rely on one fight to be the main fight for—I mean, I don’t know a lot of people who are gonna pay $70 just to watch one fight…

“I’m pretty sure if it was just Sean O’Malley and a bunch of other guys that are up-and-coming, not really any type of notoriety, people aren’t paying $75 to watch Sean O’Malley fight, either. So I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about in that regard. So if the UFC puts together a great card with top-10 fights and matchups that mean something, people are gonna pay. So it doesn’t really matter who’s headlining. The UFC is the UFC. If it’s a good fight card, people are gonna pay to tune in to watch it.”

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While it may not be a main event, Sterling and Yan are still set to collide on the pay-per-view stage later this year and will look to settle their score for good.

For the New York native, the rematch represents the opportunity for him to legitimize his reign and cement his place on the throne. For the Russian, UFC 273 offers the chance to regain the undisputed title he firmly believes he never should have lost. The build-up is certainly set to be a heated one.

Do you agree with Aljamain Sterling’s response to Sean O’Malley’s comments?

Continue Reading Sterling Throws O’Malley’s ‘Not Big Enough’ Remark Right Back At Him at MMA News.

O’Malley: Yan & Sterling Aren’t Big Enough To Main Event A PPV

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley doesn’t believe champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan are “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

The much-anticipated rematch between Sterling and Yan, originally scheduled for UFC 26…

Sean O'Malley, Petr Yan & Aljamain Sterling

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley doesn’t believe champion Aljamain Sterling and interim titleholder Petr Yan are “big enough” to headline a pay-per-view.

The much-anticipated rematch between Sterling and Yan, originally scheduled for UFC 267 last October, was set to go down at UFC 272 in March. After they were to unify the bantamweight title in the co-main, Alexander Volkanovski was targeted to defend his featherweight belt against Max Holloway in the main event.

But after Holloway withdrew through injury and the trilogy clash was off, Volkanovski’s next appearance, expected to be against “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, was moved back a month to UFC 273. Following that fight to April was the bantamweight unification bout.

With both title fights pushed back, UFC 272 will now be headlined by a non-title grudge match between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.

O’Malley: “They Need Big Daddy”

During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, #12-ranked bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley commented on the adjusted schedule. His takeaway from the decision to move Sterling and Yan’s rematch to UFC 273 was that the pair simply aren’t big enough to headline a pay-per-view.

O’Malley’s solution to the bantamweight division not boasting PPV-headline names? “Big daddy.”

“You know what’s crazy to me? Well, I don’t know if it’s crazy or not. Petr and Aljo can’t main event their own pay-per-view. So their main event [Volkanovski vs. Holloway 3] pulled out. They couldn’t just, ‘Ah, we’ll be main event.’ They’re not big enough. It’s weird. The best division in the UFC, maybe, and they can’t even headline their own pay-per-view. They need big daddy.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLfci5rx4x/

Sterling won the title last March at UFC 259. Despite being behind in the fight heading into the fourth round, an illegal knee from Yan saw “Funk Master” become the first UFC champion to be crowned via disqualification.

After lingering issues from neck surgery forced him out of UFC 267, Yan faced Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi and won interim gold, setting up a unification showdown with his arch-rival in 2022.

Do you agree with Sean O’Malley’s assertion that Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan aren’t big enough names to headline their own pay-per-view?

Continue Reading O’Malley: Yan & Sterling Aren’t Big Enough To Main Event A PPV at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley Mocks Petr Yan & Aljamain Sterling’s Lack Of Allure

Sean O'MalleyStory by Oliver Brockett. O’Malley finds it “crazy” that Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA) and Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) don’t have the allure to headline their own pay-per-view Bantamweight unification title fight. UFC 272 was scheduled to be headlined between Max Holloway and Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, which would have been co-mained by Petr Yan and […]

Sean O'Malley

Story by Oliver Brockett.

O’Malley finds it “crazy” that Aljamain Sterling (21-3 MMA) and Petr Yan (16-2 MMA) don’t have the allure to headline their own pay-per-view Bantamweight unification title fight.

UFC 272 was scheduled to be headlined between Max Holloway and Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski, which would have been co-mained by Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling. However, ‘Blessed’ Holloway was forced to back down due to a reaggravated injury. 

The promotion decided to push back the highly anticipated bantamweight title bout till UFC 273; this would be instead of making it the main event on March 5th.

Despite the ‘Funk Master’ stating the reason for the move is due to Yan’s vaccination status. The decision for the change in dates is still unclear. 

However, for the ‘Suga Show’ it is clear that the UFC board have a lack of faith in the marketability the two fighter’s bear.

“You know what’s crazy to me, that Petr and ‘Aljo’ can’t main event their own pay-per-view. So, their main event pulled out (Alex Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 3) and they could not be the main event? They are not big enough.” – O’Malley said on Episode 171 of his ‘TimboSugarShow’ podcast. 

He further added:

“They need big daddy.”

What’s next for the Sean O’Malley?

The ‘SugaShow’ is finally now a rank fighter in the eyes of the UFC after his KO/TKO win over Raulian Pavia in the first round, where he wore a personalised No.15 basketball jersey during the build-up to UFC 269, to commemorate his own title of the “Unranked Champ”.

It is unsure who we will see Sean O’Malley face next, yet despite previous tension with former Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, he has recently played down the idea of the possible bout. 

“After Cody got knocked out, I got asked at the press conference: ‘What do you wanna say?’. And I just said, ‘I feel bad for him’. He’s lost a lot of fights in a row, and I don’t really have anything negative to say about him.” Sean O’Malley said of Cody Garbrandt on Michael Bisping’s ‘Believe You Me‘ podcast. (Transcribed by BjPenn.com)

Do you think Sean O’Malley has a point and who within the Bantamweight rankings would give the ‘Suga Show’ his toughest test?

Sean O’Malley’s 2023 Plans: Fat Contract & Killing Spree

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed his ambitions for the near future, which sees focus on a massive 12 months in 2023.

2021 was a big year for O’Malley. Heading into it, “Sugar’ was riding his first professional loss, a TKO defea…

Sean O'Malley

UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley has revealed his ambitions for the near future, which sees focus on a massive 12 months in 2023.

2021 was a big year for O’Malley. Heading into it, “Sugar’ was riding his first professional loss, a TKO defeat at the hands of Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC 252 in August 2020. In the 17 months since that setback, O’Malley has built a three-fight win streak, recorded three finishes, earned three post-fight $50,000 bonuses, and entered the bantamweight rankings.

After rebounding at UFC 260 last March with a brutal third-round knockout against Thomas Almeida, O’Malley began another streak four months later by stopping promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho at UFC 264.

Closing out his successful and lucrative 2021, the 27-year-old knocked out formerly-ranked Brazilian Raulian Paiva at UFC 269 last month.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuGuo5Dtff/

O’Malley Forecasts A Big Year

After a triumphant 2021 and securing his place at #12 on the 135-pound ladder, most have been eagerly anticipating O’Malley’s first appearance of what looked set to be a big 12 months for “Sugar.” However, due to a thumb injury and his desire to fight at a Las Vegas pay-per-view, O’Malley believes he could be on the sidelines until the summer.

With that lesser level of activity, which O’Malley believes could see him fight twice in 2022, the Montana native has targeted 2023 as his big year.

During a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, the rising bantamweight star outlined his goals for the next two years: two fights in 2022, then a lucrative new contract, and a “killing spree” at 135 pounds the following year.

“Ideally, I get three fights in a year. That’s kind of where my head’s at. I don’t know if it’s (because I want) more money, I think it’s competition. I love competing. But I just want to get back in the game and improve. So if I only get two–if I get one in July and November, December… I might only get two this year, fight out the contract, then boom: 2023, fat f**king contract and go on a killing spree.” (h/t Essentially Sports)

While O’Malley is targeting big things in 2023, there’s no doubt he can still accomplish a lot in two fights across the next 12 months. While his next opponent is seemingly far from being decided, O’Malley has consistently expressed his desire to face fellow surging striker Adrian Yanez.

What do you make of Sean O’Malley’s 2023 goals?

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley’s 2023 Plans: Fat Contract & Killing Spree at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley Feels Bad For Cody Garbrandt Following Another Loss

Sean O'MalleySean O’Malley’s resentment towards Cody Garbrandt has passed, as ‘Suga’ now feels bad for the former bantamweight champion. Garbrandt was one of ‘Suga’s rivals and a potential fight was possibly on the horizon for the two. After Garbrandt’s flyweight debut was ruined by Kai Kara-France, O’Malley feels more sympathy for the former champ than anything. […]

Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley’s resentment towards Cody Garbrandt has passed, as ‘Suga’ now feels bad for the former bantamweight champion.

Garbrandt was one of ‘Suga’s rivals and a potential fight was possibly on the horizon for the two. After Garbrandt’s flyweight debut was ruined by Kai Kara-France, O’Malley feels more sympathy for the former champ than anything. O’Malley and Garbrandt fought on UFC 269, which saw O’Malley gain another KO win. The two exchanged words multiple times before they took to the octagon and many fans alluded that Garbrandt was worrying about O’Malley more than his opponent.

O’Malley said in the post fight press conference that he felt bad for him that night and he continues to reiterate the fact that he has sympathy for Garbrandt.

Sean O’Malley was on Michael Bisping’s podcast when he said that a fight with Cody Garbrandt may not be in the cards anymore

“It’s just tough. I go out there and beat him, I do not see it doing much for me right now… He’s 1-6 or something in his last seven,” O’Malley said. “I think he’s won one fight since 2017. I go out there and beat him, it doesn’t really do what it would’ve three or four fights ago. I go out there and lose to Cody, who’s 1-7 and got knocked out, that does a lot of negative damage towards me. I just don’t think that’s realistically the next fight.” (Transcribed by MMANews)

O’Malley’s next opponent is up in the air at the moment. He has finally cracked the top 15 rankings and is currently the 12th ranked fighter in the bantamweight division. A rematch with Marlon Vera may make the most sense for O’Malley and the promotion. A win over Vera would put O’Malley as a top 10 fighter and a true contender in the division. He would also get his revenge after being handed his first professional loss.

Who do you want to see the ‘Suga Show’ take on next?

Sean O’Malley: “I Feel Bad” For Cody Garbrandt

Sean O’Malley went from trash-talking Cody Garbrandt to now feeling sympathy towards him.

Sean O’Malley is coming off a great win at UFC 269. At that same event, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt lost his flyweight fight against Kai Kara-…

Cody Garbrandt Sean O'Malley

Sean O’Malley went from trash-talking Cody Garbrandt to now feeling sympathy towards him.

Sean O’Malley is coming off a great win at UFC 269. At that same event, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt lost his flyweight fight against Kai Kara-France. Leading up to that UFC 269 event, Garbrandt and O’Malley were trash-talking towards each other, and it seemed like they would like to fight in the future. However, O’Malley’s feelings towards Garbrandt have changed.

“After Cody got knocked out, I got asked at the press conference, ‘What do you wanna say?’ And I just, I feel bad for him,” O’Malley told Michael Bisping on his podcast. “He’s lost a lot of fights in a row, and I don’t really have anything negative to say about him.”

O’Malley has found himself in the top fifteen on that bantamweight rankings for the first time in his UFC career. He has caught heat in the past for not facing ranked opponents, and when he was targeting a former champion in Garbrandt that, might have been his way of proving the haters wrong. Now, Garbrandt is no longer ranked in any division and O’Malley is looking towards other opponent options.

“It’s just tough. I go out there and beat him, I do not see it doing much for me right now… He’s 1-6 or something in his last seven,” O’Malley said. “I think he’s won one fight since 2017. I go out there and beat him, it doesn’t really do what it would’ve three or four fights ago. I go out there and lose to Cody, who’s 1-7 and got knocked out, that does a lot of negative damage towards me. I just don’t think that’s realistically the next fight.”

O’Malley is right about Garbrandt having only won a single fight in his last six. Since losing the bantamweight belt, he has had a hard time inside the Octagon. It is unclear at this time if he will remain at flyweight or revert back to 135 pounds. Either way, it is highly unlikely he will face off against O’Malley next based on these latest comments.

What do you think Cody Garbrandt should do going forward?

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley: “I Feel Bad” For Cody Garbrandt at MMA News.