Chito Vera doesn’t think Sean O’Malley has much of a resume.
Long before he became the UFC Bantamweight Champion, O’Malley (17-1) was just a flashy prospect on the regional scene. Stock in ‘Sugar’ rose in 2017 after he won a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, knocking out Alfred Khashakyan in viral fashion right in front of UFC boss Dana White with rapper Snoop Dogg on commentary.
O’Malley’s stardom would increase with four-straight wins over Terrion Ware, Andre Soukhamthath, Jose Quinonez and Eddie Wineland. The hype was halted for a moment when Vera became the first fighter to defeat O’Malley at UFC 252.
‘Some Of Those Guys Were Like Terrible’
This was one of the only setbacks in the 29 year-old’s road to the title and is currently unbeaten in his last six. Former foe Vera (23-8-1) looks to change that in their title rematch at UFC 299.
Ahead of that, the title challenger has no issue downplaying O’Malley’s UFC career to date.
“If we really go through his record, I mean, he fought guys that never won in the UFC,” Vera told Shakiel Mahjouri. “He didn’t even fought 50-50 fighters. Some of those guys were like terrible. Some of the guys he KO’ed, and they make publicity of the great KO’s.”
Everybody’s A Critic, Including Chito
Going through O’Malley’s UFC record, Vera presents his case against the champion.
“That kid [Khashakyan], he came on Contender [Series], never made it to the UFC, never even came back to Contender. Then the Eddie Wineland KO, wasn’t he KO’ed 3 times before that and 3 times after that? The kid with the green hair [Kris Moutinho], he went 0-2 in the UFC.
“We remember when Almeida was a tough guy, this monster coming up. By the time he fought Almeida, Almeida was a shell of himself. Besides Yan and Sterling, and I can name my name because I beat him. But besides those 2, [it’s] a pretty shitty record.”
Vera didn’t forget to mention former contender Raulian Paiva, who O’Malley impressively crushed in the first round at UFC 269.
“He fought the 125’er, that guy’s like what, 4’11?”
Vera Gives O’Malley Some Credit After All
While Vera isn’t impressed with most names on O’Malley’s record, he did give his rival a few props for dethroning UFC Champ Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.
“Beating the champion was great,” Vera said of O’Malley. “Good job. Moved well, defended a takedown. Of course, Aljamain’s striking is not the best. He ran into the punch, which that’s pretty low-level of his record.”
