Despite recent tensions between Sean O’Malley and Conor McGregor, O’Malley remains appreciative of McGregor’s impact on his career.
The two UFC superstars have traded online insults over the past few months, with the feud kicking off after McGregor criticized O’Malley for a previous Ostarine doping failure. The back-and-forth escalated with O’Malley responding to McGregor’s jabs, but O’Malley hasn’t forgotten the admiration he once held for the former double champion.
The rivalry hit its peak when McGregor made some unfiltered comments about O’Malley during a livestream. O’Malley shot back, accusing McGregor of struggling with substance abuse, calling him an “alcoholic and drug addict.” Despite their heated words, O’Malley still acknowledges McGregor’s role in shaping his career, particularly in how McGregor paved the way for fighters who combine skill with a strong personal brand.
Sean O’Malley Says Conor McGregor Helped Shape his MMA Career
“He played an important role in my career,” O’Malley said, reflecting on McGregor’s influence. “He always will be an inspiration to me at some point… Right now I wouldn’t say he necessarily is… He has a big family now, a bunch of kids, and I hope he’s doing well.”
O’Malley’s admiration for McGregor goes beyond their feud. McGregor’s rise to fame demonstrated the power of knockout ability, charisma, and self-promotion—traits O’Malley mirrored in his own journey. O’Malley’s flashy style and showmanship earned him comparisons to McGregor early in his career, with some seeing him as a successor to the Irishman’s star power. Notably, O’Malley’s recent knockout of Aljamain Sterling drew comparisons to McGregor’s iconic KO of José Aldo.
Much like McGregor, O’Malley received strong backing from UFC president Dana White, who praised O’Malley’s ability to market himself and generate excitement. During O’Malley’s rise, his connection with fans and ability to deliver highlight-reel finishes kept him in the spotlight. However, his reign as bantamweight champion came to an abrupt end at UFC 306, when he was dominated over five rounds by Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley took the loss in stride at first, even making light of the situation. But soon after, he began to criticize the officials, believing he had been unfairly robbed of the victory.
O’Malley Looking for Merab Dvalishvili Rematch
Now, O’Malley is looking to get back on track and reclaim his title. Dvalishvili, fresh off his win, has even expressed interest in a rematch:
“I’m ready to fight him again,” Dvalishvili commented recently under one of O’Malley’s social media posts. The potential rematch has sparked excitement, with fans eager to see whether O’Malley can make the necessary adjustments to reclaim the belt.
However, O’Malley isn’t the only one eyeing a shot at Dvalishvili. Bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov has also thrown his name into the mix, leading to increased tension among the division’s top fighters. UFC now faces the challenge of deciding who will get the next crack at the title—a rematch for O’Malley, or a fresh challenge in Nurmagomedov.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
