Future Champ – ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley

Future Champ – ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley

Who is He?

‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley left his native home in Montana at the age of 18 to pursue a career in combat sports. He’s already amassed a serious following for somebody outside the top 20 in his division, and with quotes like the one below it’s easy to see why.

“I’ve been streaming and gaming and training and chilling. I like to get a nap in if I can”.

The self-confessed Nate Diaz lover, and Snoop Dogg’s favourite fighter, spends his time getting high, streaming fortnite on twitch, training in Ju Jitsu and sparring in the gym. Although probably not in that order. But if you think that means he doesn’t take fighting seriously; you’d be dead wrong. I think this kid’s going to the top, and here’s why.

Style and skillset

The ‘Sugar’ show currently weighs it at around 156 pounds, has a 72-inch reach and stands 5ft 11 in.

He has a wildly unpredictable style with a myriad of weapons in his arsenal, including an array of spinning kicks, spinning elbows and perfectly timed knees which culminate in deadly striking power.

According to Joe Rogan “This kid has that ‘it’ thing that everybody wants, everybody wants to pay attention to. Not only that, He’s dedicated to learning and growing”. He’s absolutely right too, and whilst O’Malley may look like a cross between the kid from Kick Ass and the guy from Lmfao, make no mistake, he is a fighting machine.

UFC Journey So Far

Sean O’Malley announced himself on the UFC stage with a brilliant first round KO of an impressive Alfred Khashakyan on Dana White’s contender series back in 2017. That knockout landed him a contract for the UFC proper, where he’d impress again in back to back decision victories against Terrion Ware and Andre Soukhamthath.

After a very frustrating two-year absence, O’Malley finally returned to fight journeyman Jose Alberto Quinonez in March 2020, winning emphatically inside four minutes of the first round. O’Malley showcased his Fantastic movement on the outside, dodging attacks and countering efficiently. With three and a half minutes on the clock, Quinonez over-reached for a punch, O’Malley stepped back, pivoted left and blocked the overhand right with his left elbow, simultaneously following through with a flush-right hook which dropped Quinonez. As his opponent was getting up, O’Malley threw a couple faints and landed a thunderous body kick which staggered Quinonez to his knees against the cage. Quinonez made one last gasp attempt to clamber to his feet, and at the perfect moment O’Malley threw a sharp right hook which connected with brutal efficiency, allowing O’Malley to end the fight with a barrage of hammer fists on the ground.

Who would he have to beat?

O’Malley will certainly have his work cut out if he is going to become champion, because he finds himself in one of the most stacked divisions in the UFC. The current champ is technically Henry Cejudo. Although, his extremely impressive demolition of then champ TJ Dillashaw took place down at flyweight.

In order to get to the top, O’Malley would also have to negotiate extremely difficult fights with previous champions such as Cody Garbrandt and Dominick Cruz. Other serious contenders in the division include the very impressive Petr Yan, who has won his first six fights in the UFC consecutively, earning two ‘fight of the night’ bonuses for victories against Urijah Faber and Jin Soo Son. He’d also need to get past the current number one contender Marlon Moraes who faces off against current champ Henry Cejudo on June 8th.

There is a long way in the career of Sean O’Malley, and he won’t be any where near contention in 2020. But I think he’s got what it takes, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he makes it all the way to the top.

Craig Watson.