With a distinct aplomb and cocky nature, Sean O'Malley has always been pictured as someone who can mirror the impact created by Conor McGregor. The parallels between the two became further visible when Suga Sean made it known that he sees the Notorious as his role model. Hence, fans desired to witness a master and an apprentice relationship form between McGregor and O'Malley, but on the contrary, the two shared an unfriendly episode on social media.
The feud began when Conor McGregor linked Sean O’Malley to boxer Ryan Garcia, referencing their shared use of a banned substance after Garcia’s win over Devin Haney was changed to a no-contest. O’Malley and McGregor traded heated words through interviews and social media, but it seems they’ve now resolved their conflict.
Preparing for his rematch with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, Sean O’Malley studied several fights for inspiration, including Conor McGregor’s thrilling 2016 rematch with Nate Diaz, where McGregor avenged his first UFC loss. McGregor expressed enthusiasm for O’Malley’s rematch, praising his comparable approach to preparing for a redemption fight against Diaz.
“Hell yeah, I’ll take it,” O’Malley said reacting to McGregor’s comments during UFC 316 media day. “I’ll forever be a huge Conor fan.
“I feel grateful to be able to watch his come up in my generation, I watched it happen. I think we’ll look back, he had one of the craziest careers. It’s cool to be able to watch it happen while I was getting into the UFC and everything. I’m pumped the relationship is back to good.”
Sean O’Malley revealed that Conor McGregor wasn’t the only fighter he analyzed while preparing for his rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on Saturday. While McGregor’s 2016 rematch with Nate Diaz was on his watchlist, O’Malley studied various other rematches and past fights for inspiration as he aims to defeat Dvalishvili and recapture the bantamweight title.
“So I was watching Conor-Nate — I’ve just been watching a bunch of fights, we just have cameras recording so much, I didn’t realize that was a moment that got captured,” O’Malley said. “I’ve been watching a bunch of fights.
“I’ve been watching some rematches, watched Chuck [Liddell] versus Randy [Couture]. I’ve never watched Chuck Liddell fights. Obviously, I knew who he was, but I’ve never [watched his fights]. So I’ve been watching a lot of old school fights, it’s been cool.”
Despite their past tensions, Sean O’Malley holds deep respect for Conor McGregor, marveling at how he dominated the UFC and became the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two divisions, capturing both the lightweight and featherweight championships.
“I’ve always taken inspiration from Conor fights,” O’Malley said. “I’ve watched Conor fights more than probably any [fights] — well [I watch] my fights more — but I’ve watched a lot of Conor fights.”