Sean O’Malley has finally landed the more lucrative UFC contract that he’s been calling for during his rise to stardom in the UFC after putting pen to paper on a new 8-fight deal.
“I got a very gracious contract that I’m proud of,” O’Malley said after Dana White first announced the news. “I got a number that I’m very happy with. I truly don’t think any manager that I had could have went in there and got me what I got. That also helps with the relationship built with the UFC. I feel like I have earned this contract. I feel like I have earned the amount that I’m getting paid.”
The 28-year-old O’Malley is someone whose been able to stand out from the crowd since joining the UFC back in 2017, which is partly due to his confident, outspoken personality and unique style that’s helped people take notice of him and grow his fanbase.
However, that wouldn’t have counted for anything if he hadn’t been able to back that up with action in the Octagon, and ‘Suga’ Sean certainly has done that as he’s gone 8-1 (+1nc) during his five year run so far, picking up five highlight-reel finishes via strikes along the way.
O’Malley’s career really hit the next level however when he was able to leverage his initial success and popularity to land a fight with former bantamweight champion Petr Yan, and took full advantage of that by earning a split-decision victory to leapfrog up the rankings and displace him as the division’s leading contender.
Despite that, O’Malley hasn’t yet secured a title shot, though it seems likely that if the heavily rumored fight between current 135lb champ Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo does happen then ‘Suga’ Sean would be next in line to face the winner.
