Sean O’Malley plans to make his 2024 campaign one for the history books.
Bursting onto the UFC scene in 2017, ‘Sugar’ went from prospect to standout to world champion in the span of half a decade. Scoring a plethora of highlight-reel-worthy knockouts along the way, O’Malley’s biggest moment came at UFC 292 in August when he landed a stunning second-round KO against one of the greatest to ever do it, Aljamain Sterling, and claimed the undisputed bantamweight world title.
Before looking ahead to his future as a UFC champion, Sean O’Malley is looking back courtesy of an ESPN exclusive interview with Megan Olivi.
“I think the UFC did a good job placing me in certain fights, but it was a lot of knockouts,” O’Malley said of his still-developing career. “I love looking back at the highlight reel. That never gets old. The narrative was I never fight the toughest guys and then in 2022, I fought Petr Yan who was ranked number one. Next fight, I fight the greatest bantamweight of all time, Aljo. So my last two fights kind of take that narrative away because I was never turning fights down. I was just accepting the fights they offered. It’s worked out perfect.”
Of course, none of O’Malley’s victories were as big as the one he scored against the ‘Funk Master’ over the summer. Going into the bout with a rib injury, ‘Sugar’ knew that the only way he could leave Boston with gold wrapped around his waist was to stay on his feet and fend off the smothering attack of Aljamain Sterling.
“My whole goal going into the fight before I was injured was do not let him take me down,” O’Malley added. “That was the whole game plan. After I had the rib injury, that was the game plan. I just literally could not let him take me down. He had two attempts, failed on both so I just looked at it like, if I just keep it where I need to keep it, on the feet, I know I can knock him out and I went in there with that confidence and I’m going to do what I know I’m capable of doing and got the job done.”
Sean O’Malley Ko’s Aljamin Sterling with a brutal right hand…😤😤. He finally did it..
#ufc292 #ufcboston #ufc pic.twitter.com/tbvnNo3jzs— SPORTSONSTERIODS (@towntko) August 20, 2023
On March 9, O’Malley will look to defend his title for the first time in the UFC 299 headliner. But it won’t be against just any other contender. Instead, ‘Sugar’ will run it back with the only man to defeat him in his MMA career, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.
Squaring off UFC 252 more than three years ago, O’Malley suffered a leg injury in the opening round that ultimately led to a first-round TKO loss against Vera. Since then, O’Malley has been chomping at the bit for retribution.
“I was whooping his ass,” O’Malley said. “He got lucky. That’s how I’ve felt ever since that fight happened. And I do believe truly, and he’ll never admit it, but he knows how lucky he got that night. But it worked out good. Here we are. I’m defending (my title). I get pay-per-view points. There’s a story behind it. It makes it that much bigger. It’s bigger than anybody else in the division.
“So the fact that happened August 2020, and I win the belt August 2023, it was three years later, so the fight is the one that makes the most sense. I’m very excited. I’ve never been this excited for a fight. There’s something extra on this one.”
Sean O’Malley Plans on Being Bigger Than Conor McGregor
Emerging as one of the biggest stars of 2023, Sean O’Malley has some very big aspirations for the new year. Aside from planning to escape a full year with his UFC title intact, ‘Sugar’ plans on reaching Conor McGregor’s level of fame and fortune before it’s all said and done.
“I would like to get another one in by the end of the year and be the biggest star in sports – not just combat sports,” O’Malley said in an interview with Megan Olivi for ESPN. “I think (if) I go out there and put two beautiful performances together (in 2024), I will be as big as Conor (McGregor). UFC has grown 40, 50 percent since Conor was really in his prime.
“COVID really boosted the UFC, so I had more opportunities to go out there and be a star. When I say that, people say, ‘Oh, you want to be like Conor.’ He’s the biggest star in combat sports. Of course, I want to be like him. When people say that, it sounds a little silly.”
The Irishman will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon on June 29, less than three months after O’Malley’s first bantamweight title defense. McGregor is scheduled to headline UFC 302 during International Fight Week, facing former Bellator MMA champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler in a middleweight matchup.
“I believed in myself and wanted to do stuff like that before Conor kind of came on the scene and did it,” O’Malley said. “But the fact that he did it, it allows me to even dream bigger. Like, ‘Oh, he can make $100 million, I want to make $200 million.’ I can dream bigger now because of what he’s done. I foresee that in my future.”
Watch the full interview below:
