Sean O’Malley and Conor McGregor have seemingly put their long-standing feud to rest. Both fighters, after years of exchanging verbal blows, have now expressed mutual respect and a desire to see each other back on top in the sport they both helped shape.
The feud, which has simmered for years, finally came to a halt in a public exchange. Sean O’Malley, in a recent episode of the “Join The Lobby” podcast, acknowledged that despite the back-and-forth between the two, McGregor has played a key role in his career:
“We’ve been going back and forth for a while, but at the end of the day, he’s been an important figure in my journey,” O’Malley said.
Though O’Malley didn’t go as far as to call McGregor a current inspiration, he hinted that there’s more to McGregor’s story than meets the eye:
“I think he wants to get back to fighting, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes with him that people don’t know,” he mentioned. O’Malley also expressed a personal wish to see McGregor return to the octagon, but more importantly, he hopes the Irish star is doing well in his personal life:
“I hope he’s okay. He has a big family now, and a lot has changed.”
UFC Star Sean O’Malley Shows Conor McGregor Love
For fighters like O’Malley and McGregor, fame and fortune can come at a cost, and O’Malley pointed out how challenging it can be to navigate that lifestyle:
“No one teaches you how to handle fame or how to deal with all the money. Conor came from nothing and became a global sensation,” he said, empathizing with McGregor’s rise from a broke fighter in Ireland to one of the wealthiest figures in combat sports.
In response to O’Malley’s respectful words, McGregor took to X (formerly Twitter) to reciprocate the positive vibes. He praised O’Malley, calling him a “fighting legend” and acknowledged his achievements as a UFC champion. But McGregor didn’t stop there – he went on to offer a unique proposal. He suggested that O’Malley and his long-time coach, Tim Welch, come to Ireland for a specialized training camp at SBG Ireland under head coach John Kavanagh.
“I would love to see Sean and Tim spend time in Ireland. A four-week run at SBG would make a massive difference. I’m confident he would regain his title,” McGregor said, clearly excited about the potential collaboration. He also emphasized that while the camp wouldn’t be a long-term commitment, it would provide invaluable experience for both O’Malley and Welch:
McGregor Wants to See Sean O’Malley Train at SBG Ireland
“They would learn so much and come back stronger, ready to reclaim the gold,” McGregor added.
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, McGregor confirmed that he plans to make his UFC return in early 2025, with a targeted date in February. The fight is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, and McGregor’s likely opponent is Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker, a tough competitor in the lightweight division.
Do you think Sean O’Malley will take Conor McGregor up on his offer? Time will tell. Stay tuned for more.
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