Rising UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley knows that he’s on the cusp of superstardom. A scheduled fight against former champ Petr Yan at UFC 280 looms for O’Malley, with “Suga” Sean declaring that fights like this are “how superstars are born” on The MMA Hour. It’s hard not to look at it like that.
I don’t really want that to be my mindset going into this fight, ‘Well if I lose, I lose to the No. 1 guy.’ That’s what it is though. But I just believe in creating these powerful moments, these magical moments, and I think this is how superstars are created. I go out there and starch Petr Yan, Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, that’s massive. That is how superstars are born and I just feel like this is a perfect, perfect fight in my career. Perfect time, perfect opponent. It’s just my time to go out there.
O’Malley: Petr Yan fight is “how superstars are born”
I’m just excited about the opportunity, and I believe I’ll capitalize on the opportunity. I think the higher level guys I fight, the better ‘Suga’ you guys are going to get. I’ve not been able to show my true MMA skills inside the octagon. I really did think Pedro [Munhoz] was going to be the one to bring it out of me. It wasn’t, obviously. That went how it went, but I think Petr is the guy to see how good I really am.”
Although Sean O’Malley’s last fight was declared no contest, the confident star is promising to finish Petr Yan. “Once I faceplant Petr in the canvas, Dana will be like, ‘Okay, that was a good fight.’
Regardless, me versus Petr is an epic fight. It’s a sweet, sweet kickboxing fight if I had to guess. Two very high level strikers, two very high level MMA fighters. It’s going to be a very interesting fight and I believe I have what it takes to put Petr’s lights out.”
O’Malley also revealed that he had not expected Yan to take the fight at all. “I wasn’t expecting him to accept it to be honest.
It’s a risky fight for Petr. He’s not stupid. Well, maybe he is. He’s a high level boxer, he’s a high level MMA fighter, he’s got to look at me and know that I have legitimate skills. I’m not really in the ‘Top-10’ but I think in his mind a win over me’s a huge win.
Even when Chito supposedly ‘beat me’ he got a fight, he fought Jose Aldo who was coming off a title fight. So a win over me isn’t nothing. I’m the biggest name in the bantamweight division, I’m one of the biggest names in the UFC, so I guess in those terms I’m not surprised he took the fight. Stylistically, we get to see how that plays out Oct. 22.”
Are we seeing the rise of the next UFC superstar? Let us know in the comments.
