Because OMalleys career was postponed for 2 years as he handled a drug screening issue with the United States Anti-Doping Agency. After it was lastly fixed, the thing that mattered most was just battling.
” Im for sure quickly the most discussed person in the division,” OMalley informed MMA Fighting. “Im talking a lot of smack about Petr [Yan], Cody, Henry [Cejudo], all these guys, and theyre all responding. They all understand thats a practical battle in the future. Theyre not taking it as a joke. They know its serious service.
” Nothings personal,” he said. “These people say anything, they can do anything, state anything– nothings going to be personal. I do take a look at the entire, even the social networks tweets, as organization. Brief little individuals like Petr and Cody and Henry have short guy syndrome, and they snap at things and its personal.
” When Im healthy, like I am now, I take pleasure in combating multiple times,” he discussed. “Im delighted to fight in August.
The garbage talk absolutely puts a spotlight on OMalley, but more than anything, hes just having enjoyable. Maybe its more individual for the fighters hes targeting, but stated hes simply playing the game to win– both within and outside the octagon.
Offered enough time, OMalley knows hell get to Cody Garbrandt and Petr Yan. However theres no rush right now.
” I believe everybody that understands battling at a technical level, comprehends that Im ready for these leading dudes. They simply do not want to push since then I restrict my choices of who I can fight.
” Even Dana White, he didnt state I wasnt ready for Cody,” OMalley discussed. I believe the UFC desires me active right now.
“People saying, Do you even combat any longer? I like battling, I like being active. Ive got over 30 fights, and Ive been doing this for about 10 years now.
While his long term goal includes the bantamweight title, OMalley understands that will come ultimately. Now is the time to rattle off as lots of wins as possible while hes healthy and ready to contend.
” I head out there and knockout Cody in the preliminary, now Im possibly combating a couple times a year instead of taking these men. Like, I do not even believe “Chito” [Marlon Vera] is ranked. Thats who I prepare on battling next in my head, and then I have a lots of options after that. I think its wise in the UFCs organization smart not to offer me a man in the top-five, or perhaps a top-10 person right now since it limits the choices of who I can combat next.”
, Conor, people that understand how to talk and offer battles.”
” I go out there and knockout Cody in the first round, now Im possibly fighting a couple times a year rather than taking these people. I believe its clever in the UFCs business smart not to give me a man in the top-five, or even a top-10 person right now because it restricts the choices of who I can combat next.”
Hes believing about me. I think hes dreaming about me, waking up and asking somebody to assist him tweet something.”
Less than three years later on, OMalley is coming off back-to-back knockout wins, consisting of a jaw-dropping efficiency versus previous WEC champ Eddie Wineland at UFC 250. Following that win, he engaged in a back-and-forth with former champion Cody Garbrandt, who battled on the same card, about who had the more impressive finish. He also drew the ire of new bantamweight king Petr Yan, who responded to OMalley in a fiery Twitter exchange before he beat Jose Aldo to become champ.
Rather, OMalley argues hes absolutely ready for the finest of the very best at bantamweight. But the way he sees it, theres a valid reason that hes not being compared with Garbrandt or the other higher-ranked contenders in the weight class.
It all amounts to a larger spotlight, and in a sport where appeal goes a long method towards determining profession arc, OMalley genuinely thinks hes the future of this department.
Beyond the spoken warfare thats gotten him a lot attention, OMalley appeared ready to make a big step forward in the department after he destroyed Wineland at UFC 250. It appeared there was even interest in a showdown with Garbrandt after he scored a terrible knockout of his own on the same night.
With a fight arranged at UFC 253 versus Marlon Vera on Aug. 15, OMalley is anxious to make his third win in 2020 with hopes of remaining active through the end of the year.
In a very short period of time, Sean OMalley has actually become one of the most spoken about fighters on the whole UFC lineup– and he understands it.
I feel like that got too individual, and it played games with him. I certainly learned from that experience with Conor vs. Khabib, I cant let it get personal., Conor, people that know how to talk and offer fights.”
“People saying, Do you even combat any longer? Ive got over 30 battles, and Ive been doing this for about 10 years now.
Thanks to a UFC contract-winning knockout on Dana Whites Contender Series and a vibrant personality, the 25-year-old bantamweight had a lot of eyes on him from the minute he made his launching.
UFC President Dana White later downplayed that possibility, but OMalley certainly didnt take that as a small on his abilities, or his readiness for the fighters at the top of the division.