Reigning bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has brought attention to worrying signs concerning Sean Strickland’s psychological well-being. He voiced his apprehensions regarding the potential negative impacts of extensive sparring sessions on Strickland’s mental stability.
O’Malley’s concerns were triggered by Strickland’s public admission of experiencing physical impulses and unstable thoughts, including a disturbing inclination towards harming others.
In light of Strickland’s alarming disclosures, O’Malley talked about Strickland’s emotions in a recent episode on his channel. He emphasized the potential consequences of repetitive head trauma. O’Malley stressed that frequent exposure to head strikes during sparring sessions could significantly compromise brain health and lead to unsettling psychological manifestations.
O’Malley stated: “Duh. Anyone that says they literally have desires to kill people, probably aren’t doing mentally well. You either love, or you hate- and if you wanna k*ll people for no reason. And he’s honest about it, which it f*ckin’ pretty crazy. Going in there, sparring, just getting hit in the head. Not that he gets hit in the head that much, but if you’re getting hit ‘not that much,’ but you spar everyday, that adds up.”
Even skilled competitors may be in danger of recurrent brain trauma, which might have unsettling psychological effects. When repeated, even little head injuries may have an adverse effect on brain function.
In recent years, many competitors have shifted away from intense sparring in favour of lighter, more technical training methods. There has been growing awareness of the long-term risks associated with head trauma.
However, Strickland remains steadfast in his adherence to traditional rigorous sparring routines. He has proudly identified himself as an advocate of the “old school” training philosophy.
O’Malley publicly criticized Strickland’s aggressive behavior towards social media influencer Sneako during a sparring session. He expressed dismay at Strickland’s excessive force and disregard for Sneako’s well-being, particularly after Sneako’s corner had signaled the end of the session by throwing in the towel.
O’Malley thought Strickland was attempting to cause the streamer to suffer brain damage.
He said: “I thought it was f**ked up. His corner threw in the towel. If someone came in here and wanted me to f**king peck around with them because I’m a professional, I’m a champ and they want to get a little taste of what it’s like, I’m not going to – Did you see how hard he was trying to hurt him?”
O’Malley’s remarks represent broader concerns within the combat sports community regarding Strickland’s temperament and decision-making under pressure. His tendency to display erratic behaviour in the past has drawn scrutiny. Also, O’Malley’s comments reignited discussions about Strickland’s mental state and its potential implications for his career.