Sean O’Malley Believes He’s on the Verge of Overtaking Conor McGregor as the UFC’s Biggest Star

Sean O’Malley, the current UFC bantamweight champion, is gearing up to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC at The Sphere in Las Vegas. O’Malley is confident in his abilities and believes that he is closing in on Conor McGregor to become the biggest star in the UFC. In an interview with ESPN during a media day, O’Malley expressed his belief that McGregor still has one more significant fight left in him, likely against Michael Chandler. However, O’Malley sees himself as the heir to McGregor’s throne should McGregor stumble in his next bout.

Comparing O’Malley and McGregor

O’Malley sees a key difference between himself and McGregor: activity. While McGregor was once a busy fighter, competing ten times between 2013 and 2016 and even branching out into a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017, his activity has waned in recent years. On the other hand, O’Malley, at only 29 years old, has already fought seven times in just under four years since making his UFC debut in 2017. He prides himself on his consistency and willingness to step into the octagon frequently.

Future Plans for O’Malley

Looking ahead, O’Malley has his sights set on numerous big fights in the UFC, including potential matchups with UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Deiveson Figueiredo. While he does entertain the idea of eventually stepping into the boxing ring, O’Malley emphasized that his main focus at the moment is on his UFC career and the exciting matchups that lie ahead. He acknowledges that the fans may clamor for matchups like McGregor vs. Mayweather, but for now, his focus remains firmly on the octagon.

Sean O’Malley’s confidence in his abilities and aspirations to become the UFC’s next big star are evident as he prepares to defend his bantamweight title. While Conor McGregor’s star power may have dimmed slightly due to inactivity and mixed results in recent years, O’Malley sees himself as a rising force in the promotion with a commitment to staying active and delivering consistent performances. Only time will tell if O’Malley can indeed surpass McGregor in popularity and accomplishments, but his determination and work ethic suggest that he is certainly on the right path towards achieving his goals in the UFC.