Sean O’Malley breaks down Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen
Former UFC champion Sean O’Malley talks to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley cleared the air surrounding his comments on possibly retiring early.
In a recent episode of his “TimboSugarShow” podcast, O’Malley said it’s possible he might never fight again. Tongue in cheek? Perhaps.
O’Malley, 30, is coming off back-to-back title losses to bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili, most recently a submission setback at UFC 316 in June. O’Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) clarified that he fully intends to fight again.
“I mean, you just never know, life comes at you fast,” O’Malley told MMA Junkie. “There’s no plans as of now to stop fighting, but just putting life into perspective, you never know what’s going to happen. Every time I get on the mats and I’m training, I’m grateful for that session.”
O’Malley competed twice in 2024 and hopes to mirror that activity this year.
“I’d like to fight again (in) November, December,” O’Malley said. “Get one more in by the end of the year. I’m going to go talk with the UFC in two weeks. I’m going to sit down with Hunter (Campbell), chat with him, and see where their head’s at and go from there.”
Having fought in Las Vegas 10 times throughout his UFC tenure, O’Malley would prefer the final pay-per-view of the year over November at Madison Square Garden.
“Someday, maybe,” O’Malley said of fighting in New York. “I’m not too set on it. Like, I’d rather fight – I don’t know, we’ll see. Either one. If it were up to me, I’d probably pick Vegas, but it ain’t up to me. It’s up to the UFC.”
