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Sean Daniel O'Malley (born October 24, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 20, 2021, he is ranked #12 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
O'Malley trains in Glendale, Arizona at The MMA Lab led by head trainer John Crouch, and is coached by his long time friend, Tim Welch.
O'Malley was given the nickname "Sugar" by one of his MMA coaches in Montana early on in his career.
O'Malley fought his first five fights of his career in his native Montana, before leaving to fight in North Dakota and eventually fought for Legacy Fighting Alliance where he got a highlight-reel knockout over David Nuzzo.
After his win over Nuzzo, O'Malley earned a spot on Dana White's Contender Series 2 when he took on Alfred Khashakyan. O'Malley beat Khashakyan with a stunning knockout in the first round and was awarded a UFC contract.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
O'Malley's promotional debut came against Terrion Ware on December 1, 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale. O'Malley won the fight via unanimous decision.
O'Malley next faced Andre Soukhamthath on March 3, 2018 at UFC 222. He won the fight by unanimous decision, despite injuring his foot in the third round. This fight earned both participants a Fight of the Night bonus.
O'Malley was expected to face José Alberto Quiñónez on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229. However, O'Malley announced that he was out of the fight on September 30 due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation. On October 25, O'Malley received hip surgery while waiting to receive judgment pending his potential violation. Subsequently, O'Malley was suspended for six months by the NSAC after testing positive for ostarine. He became eligible to return as of March 2019.
O'Malley was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on July 6, 2019 at UFC 239. However, O'Malley announced his withdrawal from the bout on June 21, 2019 due to a failed test for ostarine. The Nevada State Athletic Commission decided to suspend him due to the failed test and he was suspended for 6 months by USADA. The ostarine in his system was likely residual from his previously failed test prior to UFC 229.
O'Malley faced José Alberto Quiñónez at UFC 248 on March 7, 2020. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. This win earned him his first Performance of the Night award.
O'Malley faced former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland at UFC 250 on June 6, 2020. He won the fight via one-punch knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night.
O'Malley faced Marlon Vera in the co-main event of UFC 252 on August 15, 2020. Early in the fight, O'Malley was kicked in the peroneal nerve, resulting in an injury and went on to lose the fight via TKO in round one. He was later diagnosed with drop foot.
O'Malley faced Thomas Almeida on March 27, 2021 at UFC 260. During the first round O'Malley dropped Almeida with a punch, and walked away thinking that Almeida had been knocked unconscious. Despite this he won the fight via knockout in the third round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
O'Malley was scheduled to face Louis Smolka on July 10, 2021 at UFC 264. However, Smolka pulled out of the fight in late June citing injury, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Kris Moutinho. He won the bout via TKO in round three, after outstriking Moutinho with hard shots for all three rounds. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
O'Malley faced Raulian Paiva on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269. He won the fight via first round TKO. The win also earned O'Malley his fourth Performance of the Night bonus award.
Submission grappling
Quintet: Ultra
O'Malley competed at Quintet: Ultra as a member of Team UFC on December 12, 2019. He submitted Takanori Gomi with a guillotine choke in his opening round of the tournament but was subsequently submitted by Héctor Lombard with an ankle-lock. The team advanced to the next round and faced Team Strikeforce. In that round, he went to a draw with former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, being both eliminated of the round. Team UFC ended up winning the tournament.
Grappling Industries
O'Malley also entered the 155lbs Advanced No-gi division of Grappling Industries Phoenix on September 20, 2020 and placed third in a seven-man division, only losing to the eventual winner, Robert Degle.
Submission Underground
Chael Sonnen put out an open challenge on behalf of O'Malley for his promotion's event on December 20, 2020. The challenge was answered by James Gallagher, who challenged O'Malley to a grappling match at the SUG event. O'Malley reportedly declined the matchup and Gallagher was left without an opponent.
Personal life
O'Malley's grandmother is Irish.
Together with his friend and head coach, Tim Welch, O'Malley is a co-host of their own podcast, The Timbo Sugarshow. O'Malley has been an endorsed athlete of prominent combat sports brand Sanabul since 2017. He was previously following a vegan diet but has since gone back to incorporating meat into what he eats.
O'Malley is an advocate for legalizing marijuana.
O'Malley is currently in an open relationship with his wife.
In late 2020, O'Malley and his wife Danya had a daughter named Elena.
