Sports

Sean O’Malley – I’m the ‘unranked champion’ of the UFC


Like it or not, UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley on the short list of potential stars in mixed martial arts. And for the record, there are a lot of people out there who don’t like it.

O’Malley (14-1) has been a polarizing figure since he signed with the UFC off Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017. He’s 6-1 in the Octagon – including four finishes – but he has received some criticism regarding his level of competition. O’Malley, 27, has never beaten anyone ranked in the UFC top 15.

O’Malley, who must face Raulian Paiva at UFC 269 on Saturday (10 p.m., ESPN+ PPV), responded to any comment on a recording by trolling his critics. He recently released an item that calls him “Unranked Champ”. He has also dropped cargo in the past boasting of his “undefeated” record, as he feels a strange trauma behind his only loss, TKO the first round of Marlon Vera in August 2020 after a kick paralyzed O’Malley’s shin and rendered him defenseless.

Ahead of his eighth appearance at the UFC, O’Malley spoke to ESPN about the meaning behind “Unranked Champ,” the pressure of superstar expectations, and this weekend’s fight.

Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity

Unranked and ‘undefeated’

UFC ranking has always been something that’s not so important to me. So the merchandise says “Unranked Champ 15” because it’s my 15th game and I’m about to get 15-0. That match against Vera, I don’t feel like I lost because his skills are better. I don’t think he really, really thought he won the match, the way it was. It is very rare. Look how many times I got kicked in other games; you don’t see my whole leg numb the way it did to him. Mentally, I don’t feel like I’ve lost. If Vera comes out in a rematch and beats me in a decision or finishes me off fairly and fairly, I’ll have no problem saying I’ve lost.

I lose the match, I lose the grappling. I’m not worried about losing. I don’t feel like I lost that match, and a lot of people hate me saying so.

On what makes him ‘everyone’s champion’

Petr Yan be the champion right now. He beat the people he needed to beat to become a champion in the UFC. But I feel like everyone’s champion. I have more eyeballs on me than anyone else in the bantamweight division. That’s what I consider a “champion.” I am the most entertaining. People care about me the most. That’s what “champion” is to me.

Editor’s note: Yan is indeed a provisional champion, with Aljamain Sterling real belt. But Yan took control of their 2020 title before losing the title to Sterling due to disqualification.

On why he won’t feel the pressure on Saturday

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Sean O’Malley reflects on his hiatus and how it has helped him grow. Order UFC 248 here on ESPN+ espn.com/ppv.

I’ll go out there and fight Paiva, a dangerous opponent, one of the tougher guys I’ve fought, sure – but that doesn’t matter. I’m going to finish him off, and that’s what’s supposed to happen. It’s Suga Show. I have to go out and finish him off.

I’ve learned a lot, through being in the UFC since I was 22, mostly not to care what people think. I’ve been very active on social media and you don’t care what people think.

If I go out there and lose to Paiva, I still have my house almost paying off. I have my other house. I still have family and friends. My life is good, win or lose. So my happiness doesn’t matter. I don’t really put extra pressure on, “I have to win this game or people will think I’m bad.” I don’t care, you know what I mean?

I don’t really feel the pressure and I’m not really nervous before the games. I want my career to be super battles. I want each of my fights to be a pay-per-view of the main event, driving a million buys. And that comes with knocking people out and doing what I do. I got there slowly. I just turned 27, and I’m building big battles. I want to fight twice a year, big battles. That’s what I want to do, and I’m making great progress towards it.

The year 2020 to 2030 will be my whole era. It’s the Suga Era. 2020 is a great year for me. 2021 is amazing. 2022, I find myself back there in the first quarter and just continuing to do what I was doing. You can’t look too far in this game. I learned that in my fight with Vera. I had big plans in it. I didn’t expect my pelvic nerve to be touched and my legs completely numb. I have learned to withdraw from looking too far ahead.

In the fight he wanted the most

I want to fight Petr Yan. I know he’s the champ and you have to beat certain people to get that fight, but it was the last fight I wanted. Even if he’s not the champion, it’s a fight I want. I think he’s one of the top three boxers in the world. I love his style, his boxing, the way he switches positions, his cover, his defense. He’s so good. Every time he goes in there, it’s impressive.

I also like his sense of humour. Obviously there is a language barrier, but I enjoy his comedy on Twitter. He called me a poodle. I found him very funny.

Next after Saturday

If I had to say anything next, I’d probably have another fight in March. Whether it’s top 15, top 10, not ranked, I really don’t care. I love going out there and performing. Performing is my favorite thing, out on the field live, T-Mobile Arena, fans screaming, millions of people watching live. That’s what I love. As long as I can get in there and fight, it doesn’t matter who it is.

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