Irish journalist reporting:
Rising UFC star Sean O’Malley has been making waves in the MMA world, with his recent appearance at UFC 288’s headline bout between bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. Following their exchange, a potential future title fight between Sterling and O’Malley has been the talk of the town, with many speculating that it could take place in late 2023.
However, if O’Malley wants to beat Sterling, he will need to be prepared for some dangerous grappling sequences with the champion. Although O’Malley is a strong grappler in his own right, he recently discussed his early struggles in this area during an appearance on YouTube’s FLAGRANT talk show. O’Malley spoke about his origins in a “low-level” Montana kickboxing gym and his move to train with current coach Tim Welch in Arizona at the age of 18. He admitted that he struggled with wrestling, often leaving the gym in tears, but has since come a long way with his grappling. O’Malley has competed in grappling tournaments against the likes of Takanori Gomi, Hector Lombard, and Gilbert Melendez.
During his appearance on the TimboSugarShow podcast, O’Malley and Welch discussed the challenges of learning grappling in 2022. Welch stated that even after two years of training, “you’re just scratching the surface.” Despite these challenges, O’Malley remains confident in his abilities to defeat Sterling.
After their staredown at UFC 288, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Sterling and O’Malley will fight for the bantamweight title at some point in 2023. While an official date has not yet been announced, White suggested that the fight could take place in August. With UFC 292 scheduled for Boston on August 19, it’s possible that this highly anticipated fight could headline the event.
O’Malley is not one to shy away from expressing his confidence in his abilities. In a recent interview, the 28-year-old stated that he has the tools to defeat Sterling. As the MMA world eagerly awaits this potential title fight, fans can only speculate on who will come out on top.
In conclusion, O’Malley’s rise to fame in the UFC has been nothing short of impressive. His grappling skills have come a long way since his early struggles, and he remains confident in his abilities to defeat Sterling in a future title fight. As the MMA world eagerly anticipates this matchup, only time will tell who will come out on top.
