Sean O’Malley, the current UFC bantamweight champion, is gearing up to defend his championship against Merab Dvalishvili in the upcoming main event at Noche UFC in Las Vegas. The fact that O’Malley was chosen to headline this highly anticipated event suggests that the promotion holds him in high regard. O’Malley himself believes that he is very close to eclipsing Conor McGregor as the biggest star in the UFC. He stated, “I think I’m close [to catching Conor McGregor]. Conor still has one more big fight in him, but if he goes out and loses his next fight, I’m there. I’m the guy.”
When asked what separates him from McGregor, O’Malley pointed to his consistency and activity in the octagon. He stated, “I fight, I’m active. Conor was good on the mic and he had a few good performances, but I’m consistent. Right now, I’m fighting a lot, so that’s what I bring to the table.” O’Malley, 29, made his UFC debut in 2017 and is set to have his eighth fight in just under four years. On the other hand, McGregor, who was once a busy fighter, has only fought four times in the past eight years since his blockbuster boxing event with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
While O’Malley has hinted at eventually venturing into boxing like McGregor, he made it clear that his focus right now is on the big fights in the UFC. He mentioned potential matchups with UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Deiveson Figueiredo. O’Malley’s immediate plans do not include a boxing match, but he acknowledged that there might be a time for it in the future. He stated, “There are a lot of options for me so it’s not time to box right now. But there will be a time.”
While O’Malley’s confidence and consistency in the octagon are commendable, surpassing Conor McGregor as the biggest star in the UFC is no easy feat. McGregor’s star power and impact on the sport have been unparalleled, and even with his recent inactivity, he remains a major draw for fans worldwide. Only time will tell if O’Malley can truly reach the heights that McGregor has achieved in his career. As for now, all eyes will be on the upcoming title defense at Noche UFC, where O’Malley will have the opportunity to showcase his skills and further solidify his place among the elite in the UFC.