In a funny revelation that has the MMA world buzzing, former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley claims he’s undergone a complete lifestyle transformation following his devastating loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC: Noche last year.
“My life has completely changed over the last year,”
O’Malley shared on his podcast, the TimboSugarShow.
“Last time I fought him I was 29, I’m 30 now. I’m a growing man, I have hair on my chest now.”
But the physical changes are just the beginning of O’Malley’s metamorphosis. In perhaps his most eyebrow-raising admission, ‘Suga’ declared:
“I haven’t j’d the peen once this year. Not once. Not once this whole year.”
The former champion also revealed he’s quit smoking weed and gaming as part of his comprehensive lifestyle overhaul. These changes come as O’Malley prepares for a high-stakes rematch against Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, where he’ll attempt to reclaim the bantamweight title.
O’Malley’s transformation extends beyond personal habits. He’s also stepped away from social media, a decision he credits with significant mental health benefits.
“I don’t have as much anxiety interacting with people… I don’t feel like I have anxiety in general from not being on social media, being around people,”
O’Malley explained, suggesting that constant phone use might have broader negative impacts.
“I wouldn’t be surprised one day if a study comes out or some science of how really really bad constantly being on your phone is.”
Following his loss to Dvalishvili, where the Georgian dominated him for five rounds, O’Malley underwent hip surgery and has since been focusing on recovery and rehabilitation away from the public eye. He’s kept a low profile, training with his team and spending time with his wife and child.
The rematch announcement has raised eyebrows among MMA fans, with many questioning whether O’Malley deserves an immediate title shot after such a one-sided defeat. The criticism isn’t lost on ‘Suga,’ but he seems to relish his underdog status.
“I know I’m going to be a huge underdog. Everyone is going to count me out, just like the Aljo fight,”
he said, referencing his title win against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in 2023, a fight where virtually no one picked him to win.
“This is going to be the same thing. No one is going to expect me to go out there and do what I’m capable of doing.”
O’Malley’s confidence stems partly from his improved physical condition.
“Last camp we had some stuff going on. My body hasn’t felt this good since 2022,”
he revealed.
“I’m going to fight at my full potential.”
The Montana native believes that maintaining his current training pace could make a significant difference in the rematch:
“If I can just keep this pace up, how we’ve been able to train these last few weeks all the way up into the fight, I’m going to be 70 percent better than I was in that first fight.”
Whether these lifestyle changes and renewed focus will be enough to overcome Dvalishvili’s wrestling prowess remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Sean O’Malley is approaching this rematch as a changed man, both personally and professionally, determined to prove the doubters wrong once again.
