The world of MMA is no stranger to controversy, and Sean O’Malley’s recent comments have added fuel to the fire. The bantamweight fighter, known for his flamboyant style and outspoken nature, has made a bold claim about his 2020 loss to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC 252.
The Backstory
Sean O’Malley’s professional record stands at an impressive 17-1, with 1 NC. The only blemish on his record came from Vera, who secured a first-round TKO victory. However, O’Malley’s perspective on the fight is quite different. He believes that the loss is merely a technicality on paper. He attributes the defeat to a condition called “drop foot,” which he claims was caused by a kick that hit a nerve.
After the fight, O’Malley took to YouTube to address his fans and critics. He stated, “I’ve been dropped by calf kicks in sparring. It doesn’t do what it made my foot do. What happened to my foot, I got kicked on this nerve right here.” He further added, “Did he get lucky? Yes. Did he win? The nerve gave me drop foot, and then I sprained my ankle, like, four times.”
A New Narrative
In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, O’Malley introduced a new twist to the story. He claimed, “I’ve actually been playing chess for a long time. I lost that fight on purpose, just so that I could go out there and knock out Aljo and have (the Vera rematch) be my biggest fight.”
The Magnitude of the Vera Rematch
Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera also had a fight at UFC 292, the same event where O’Malley clinched the undisputed bantamweight title against Aljamain Sterling. Vera secured a unanimous decision victory over Pedro Munhoz. While there are other contenders in line for a title shot against O’Malley, the fighter believes that a rematch with Vera would be the most significant and lucrative option.
O’Malley stated, “If I got to pick, if I was running the show, I would say yes. Simply because Chito is the biggest fight, next. Not because of his beautiful performance over Pedro. That’s not the case. If I fight Chito next, it’s because that’s what I want, and that’s the biggest fight. I’m in the fight business and I want big fights.”
Injury Concerns and Future Plans
Despite his victory at UFC 292, O’Malley has been dealing with injuries. He revealed that one of the injuries occurred before the event, which prevented him from undergoing any grappling training for six weeks. He plans to get an MRI for his left hand, which he believes was injured from repeatedly striking Sterling during their bout.
O’Malley expressed his desire to return to the Octagon in December, but his decision will be based on his physical condition. He said, “If it was up to me… and I’m gonna get an MRI on the left side of my (left) hand from bouncing it off Aljo’s head 600 times, so that’s a little sore. I do think it’s gonna take just a little time to heal. I still haven’t grappled, but I’m gonna try to grapple soon and see how this (rib) feels. If I’m healthy, ready to go, December would be… I would love that. I would love to fight in December.”
Conclusion
Sean O’Malley’s comments have certainly stirred the pot in the MMA community. Whether it’s a strategic move to build hype for a potential rematch with Vera or a genuine belief, only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure: O’Malley knows how to keep the spotlight on him, both inside and outside the Octagon. As fans eagerly await his next move, the bantamweight division remains one of the most exciting and unpredictable in the sport.