Sean O’Malley, the current UFC bantamweight Champion, may not be on the best terms with Conor McGregor, but he still sees the Irishman as the face of the UFC. This might surprise some, especially considering the recent social media exchange between the two fighters.
Things between O’Malley and McGregor were friendly until recently. McGregor took a jab at O’Malley on social media, which didn’t sit well with the champion. O’Malley responded, and the back-and-forth suggested that their relationship had become strained.
However, despite labelling McGregor a “dork”, O’Malley doesn’t seem to hold any hard feelings. He still respects what McGregor has accomplished and recognizes his influence in the UFC.
Sean O’Malley Acknowledges Conor McGregor as UFC’s Biggest Star, Despite Calling Him a ‘Dork
In a recent chat with ESPN, Sean O’Malley opened up about who he thinks is the biggest star in the UFC. While some might expect him to say his own name, the 135-pound champion was quick to point to McGregor:
“Right now it’s Conor McGregor, 100 percent,” O’Malley admitted. He didn’t hold back, though, adding, “He’s a dork, but it’s the truth.”
O’Malley went on to explain that while he aspires to reach McGregor’s level of stardom, he knows he’s not there yet:
“For me to get to that, I need to go out there and knock out Merab, I go up to [145 pounds], I beat Ilia [Topuria], I beat Max [Holloway], I beat Umar [Nurmagomedov], I’m three fights away from being one of the greatest of all-time, one of the most exciting of all-time,” he said. “There’s [a] difference.”
O’Malley also made a clear distinction between being the greatest fighter and being the most entertaining:
“No one thinks Conor’s the greatest fighter of all-time. He was lacking skills, lacked title defences, but entertainment wise, he’s the best in the world. Entertainment wise, he was the best.”
McGregor vs. Chandler
McGregor’s status in the UFC has been a topic of debate, especially as fans wonder if he will ever return to the octagon. Michael Chandler, who has been waiting for a bout with McGregor, is one of those people left in limbo. Whether Chandler’s patience will pay off remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, O’Malley is preparing for his next challenge. He’ll be defending his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in the Sphere. This is a significant fight for O’Malley, as a win could bring him one step closer to the legendary status he’s aiming for.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
