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Sean O’Malley Was ‘Treated Like Sh*t’ After Refusing To Fight At UFC 268

Sean O’Malley has recently found himself on the wrong side of MMA’s premier promotion after turning down the chance to fight at UFC 268. On November 6, the UFC will return to Madison Square Garden in New York with a welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington. The UFC are clearly intent on […]

Sean O’Malley has recently found himself on the wrong side of MMA’s premier promotion after turning down the chance to fight at UFC 268.

On November 6, the UFC will return to Madison Square Garden in New York with a welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.

The UFC are clearly intent on beefing the pay-per-view event up and have already added an eagerly anticipated lightweight match-up between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler to the card.

O’Malley was also being targeted for the event before he turned down the chance to fight at UFC 268 and subsequently felt the wrath of matchmaker, Sean Shelby.

During an episode of The BrO’Malley Show, ‘Suga’ explained his reasons for refusing to fight at UFC 268.

“I don’t even know if I’m supposed to say this…Sean Shelby was mad at me,” O’Malley said. “Dude, I don’t wanna fight in New York. It’s far, the taxes are ridiculous, and Tim (Welch) has no-Gi or no, ADCC trials that weekend. And he told me that before I even potentially had a fight. So, that’s his thing, and I’m not gonna say, ‘No. I have a fight’. We’re doing it, especially when I could fight like a month later in Vegas.

Apparently, those reasons didn’t fly with Shelby who responded in an angry fashion.

“Sean Shelby was just like, mad and like, ‘Fine. Go hang out with 6ix9ine’. Like, just acting like a f**king tool, dude,” O’Malley said. “So, I don’t know if I should’ve said that or not. But it’s like, dude, come on. What do you do?”

“They don’t need me,” O’Malley added. “But don’t treat me like that. Like, act like I’m not training or nothing. ‘Go, you’re hanging out with 6ix9ine, dude’. Like, I’m hanging out with him once. Well, three days, but, man, don’t make it up.”

O’Malley says in future fight negotiations he’d rather not deal with Shelby and hopes to speak with UFC president, Dana White directly.

“Yeah, so, it’s like, ‘Cool, dude. Treat me like a piece of s**t’. No, it’s like, dude, I would rather not deal with him at all and just deal with (UFC president) Dana (White),”

The bantamweight prospect also suggests there was an issue with his pay.

“He said, ‘I know you’re going to be asking for a lot of money’. It’s like, no s**t! I’m pulling f**king numbers, dude,” O’Malley said. “You can’t deny that. It’s like, why do they have a problem paying someone what they’re worth? That shouldn’t be an issue. That should be like, especially when I’m blowing up like that. Those last two fights – Third-round finishes – Handing out brain damage. Like, dude, you should be like, ‘Hell yeah. I’m gonna pay you a lot. You’ve earned it’.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)

Do you think Sean O’Malley and Sean Shelby can fix this issue?

Alexander Volkanovski Takes AJ McKee To School: ‘This Is A Whole Different Ball Game’

Alexander Volkanovski wants to remind AJ McKee that there are levels to MMA. The 26-year-old impressively beat Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire last weekend to stretch his perfect record to 18-0, become Bellator’s featherweight champion, and take home an extra million in prize money. At the Bellator 263 post-fight press conference, McKee confidently declared himself the best […]

Alexander Volkanovski wants to remind AJ McKee that there are levels to MMA.

The 26-year-old impressively beat Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire last weekend to stretch his perfect record to 18-0, become Bellator’s featherweight champion, and take home an extra million in prize money.

At the Bellator 263 post-fight press conference, McKee confidently declared himself the best featherweight fighter in MMA, he said.

“I am the best 145-pounder in the world whether it’s UFC, ONE FC, PFL, I don’t care who it is. I’ve got $1 million cash in my bank and I’d put it up against anybody else. I’m sure Showtime and Bellator, they’ll match it. Let’s do some superfights. Let’s get some big stuff going. Let’s change this sport, like I’ve been saying. Let’s do it. Let’s unify these belts.”

The UFC featherweight king, Volkanovski, recently played down McKee’s big win.

“For him to even get that opportunity to fight the UFC champion just obviously wouldn’t be fair,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “Look at the row of killers that I had to verse to get to the top, to get to the champ. The same as the guys that are in the top 10, absolute killers in the UFC, and they got to fight each other to try and get to the top. No offense, but the competition, you got to be honest, it is a little bit different.

“Is he high level? Maybe,” Volkanovski added. “But you get to fight these guys and then get a shot straight to the top? Yeah, I wish I was in another promotion before I was in the UFC and got a shot at the UFC champ, but that’s not how things work. But again, fair play to him. I ended up seeing highlights of the fight. He looked good, did great, but at the same time, this is a whole different ball game.”

Who do you think is the best featherweight in MMA? Alexander Volkanovski, AJ McKee or somebody else?

Edson Barboza Wants an Exciting Featherweight Fight with Giga Chikadze

It’s sometimes hard to believe that UFC featherweight Edson Barboza is 35 years old and still competing against MMA’s elite fighters, especially after making the move from lightweight to featherweight so late in his career. Regardless, the weight cut has largely paid off, with back-to-back wins entering his upcoming UFC Fight Night main event against […]

Regardless, the weight cut has largely paid off, with back-to-back wins entering his upcoming UFC Fight Night main event against Giga Chikadze.

Barboza has competed against some of the best of the best that the UFC has had to offer; including lightweight bouts with Justin Gaethje, Paul Felder, and former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. After his third-round knockout over Shane Burgos at UFC 262, Barboza is climbing the ladder and moving closer to title contention once again.

In a recent interview with LowKickMMA’s James Lynch, Barboza explained his reasoning for making the main focus of his career having exciting fights in the UFC octagon.

“It’s a lot like the fight with Burgos, it’s the type of fight that makes me excited,” Barboza said. “I’m a real fan, and I know it’s going to be a fun fight. It’s a main event, 25 minutes, and it’s the type of fight that makes me say yes right away. I’m sure it’s going to be a great fight.”

“I’m looking for a war. Every time I step in there, I’m ready for war and to throw some bombs.”

Barboza faces Chikadze, a rising contender at 145 pounds who has won eight straight fights including a vicious knockout over Cub Swanson at UFC on ESPN 23.

A win over Chikadze would put Barboza back in the title hunt after an up-and-down run at lightweight. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will face Brian Ortega at UFC 266 next month, and Barboza has the opportunity to face a top contender in his next bout if he’s able to put on a show-stopping performance against Chikadze.

What is your prediction for Edson Barboza vs. Giga Chikadze?

Derrick Lewis on Ciryl Gane Faceoff: “I’m Gonna Bang His Ass Up”

UFC heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis isn’t playing games ahead of his interim title bout with Ciryl Gane, and the two nearly got into it during their faceoff at the UFC 265 ceremonial weigh-ins in Houston. Lewis and Gane will square off in the UFC 265 main event for a shot at the interim title after […]

Lewis and Gane will square off in the UFC 265 main event for a shot at the interim title after the UFC and heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou couldn’t come to terms with making his first title defense for the scheduled pay-per-view. This is Lewis’ second shot at a UFC belt, and the first for Gane after making the transition from Muay Thai to MMA just two years ago.

After a heated faceoff that nearly got physical, Lewis kept it short and brief when describing his game plan for Gane at UFC 265.

“I’m gonna bang his ass up,” Lewis said during his weigh-in interview with Jon Anik.

There isn’t any apparent beef between Lewis and Gane, but the always-intense Lewis is definitely creating more buzz surrounding the interim title matchup at UFC 265. Lewis has been on a roll since his loss to Daniel Cormier in his first title shot, earning four straight wins including a vicious knockout of Curtis Blaydes earlier this year.

Gane enters UFC 265 with an undefeated record in MMA, which has included dominant victories over heavyweight mainstays Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexander Volkov. He made a name for himself after knocking out Junior dos Santos at UFC 256 late last year.

The winner of the interim title bout will unify the belt with Ngannou at a later date, possibly later this year or early 2022. It is a very intriguing heavyweight title conversation that includes former champion Stipe Miocic, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and others throughout the Top-10 rankings.

What is your prediction for Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane?

Francis Ngannou Accuses UFC President Dana White of “Radio Silence”

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was supposed to compete for this weekend against Derrick Lewis in his first title defense, but instead, Lewis will face rising contender Ciryl Gane for an interim belt at UFC 265 in Houston, TX. Ngannou and UFC president Dana White haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, most recently with the heavyweight champion’s […]

Ngannou and UFC president Dana White haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, most recently with the heavyweight champion’s comments regarding the issues surrounding UFC fighter pay amidst his reportedly icey negotiations with the promotion after his second-round knockout over Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to win the title.

In a recent interview with Sirius XM’s Jimmy Smith, Ngannou revealed his frustrations with White and the UFC brass after an interim title was announced for UFC 265.

“It’s been radio silence,” Ngannou said when asked about his communication with White and the UFC. “I want to fight, and as a champion, I want to defend my title. But I just want to make it right for me. If they’re a legit contender, you have to fight them. It’s not your choice.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised anymore about anything. What they are doing now out there, it doesn’t matter to me. … If somebody says I don’t want to fight, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”

White recently admitted in an interview with MMA Junkie that his relationship with Ngannou, leading up to his first fight with Miocic early on in his career. While he admitted that he and Ngannou haven’t always been on the same page, he remains committed to making the heavyweight champion happy going forward.

Ngannou will keep a close eye on the interim heavyweight title bout this weekend and will face the winner at a later date in a fight that should be another fascinating matchup for the champion.

What are your thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s comments regarding the interim title?

Justin Gaethje Expects UFC 268 To Be Relocated: ‘New York City Sucks’

Justin Gaethje doesn’t believe UFC 268 will take place at the Madison Square Garden in New York as is currently planned. Last week, it was announced that a long-talked-about fight between Gaethje and Michael Chandler is set to take place at UFC 268. Unfortunately, the exciting lightweight match-up already seems to be in jeopardy. New […]

Justin Gaethje doesn’t believe UFC 268 will take place at the Madison Square Garden in New York as is currently planned.

Last week, it was announced that a long-talked-about fight between Gaethje and Michael Chandler is set to take place at UFC 268.

Unfortunately, the exciting lightweight match-up already seems to be in jeopardy. New York has recently introduced a new mandate that will require people to prove they are vaccinated against COVID-19 before attending entertainment events.

Chandler is already on the record as saying he will not be vaccinated against the virus before November 6, throwing the potential title eliminator into doubt.

‘The Highlight’ discussed his upcoming fight during the UFC 265 Weigh-In Show. Gaethje believes the recently announced New York mandates will force the pay-per-view event to be relocated.

“I don’t think it’ll be in New York City. I think it’ll be in probably Texas or something, somewhere way sweeter than New York City. New York City sucks. Anywhere outside of that place, and we’ll be good to go.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Gaethje hasn’t been seen inside the Octagon since October 2020. The 32-year-old fell short in his bid to unify the division against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. Gaethje ended up being choked unconscious in the second round. The loss to Khabib snapped Gaethje’s four-fight winning streak.

Chandler is coming off an unsuccessful title bid of his own. The former Bellator champion fell to a second-round TKO defeat at the hands of Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 262. Before that, he made an impressive start to his UFC career by quickly stopping Dan Hooker at UFC 257.

The UFC and Dana White are yet to make any official statement on the status of their planned return to New York.

Do you agree with Justin Gaethje? Will UFC 268 be moved away from New York?