Sean O’Malley: ‘I Think I’m the Best MMA Striker Out There’

The Suga Show wasn't canceled, it was just between seasons. Welcome back @SugaSeanMMA.

Stream #UFC248 on ESPN+ https://t.co/bgI1Songf8 pic.twitter.com/V0F0Oc3NCO

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 8, 2020

To say it’s a been a difficult and frustrating two years for Sean O'Malley would be a massive understatement.

O’Malley finally returned to action on Saturday night in the featured preliminary bout at UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and “Sugar” looked like he hadn’t lost a step.

O’Malley (11-0) trounced Jose Alberto Quinonez and stopped him with a plethora of strikes 2:02 into the opening round of their bantamweight clash. The MMA Lab contender landed a head kick and an assortment of punches that eventually forced referee Dan Miragliotta to intervene on Quinonez’s behalf. O’Malley was thrilled to finally be back doing what he does best.

“I felt great in there,” he said. “It definitely doesn’t feel like it’s been two years, but it’s good to be back. I’ve been through a lot to get here. I had two surgeries, two pulled fights, it was a lot. I didn’t know how I would feel making that walk. I tried to picture it in my head so many times, but you never know until you are out there.”

Never lacking in confidence, O’Malley was loud and proud about his skillset and believes that he is above the rest in the sport when it comes fighting on the feet.

“I think I’m the best MMA striker out there,” he said. “I know a lot of people won’t agree with that because they haven’t really got to see it, but I truly believe I am the best MMA striker. I can throw anything from either stance and I have so many tools, especially when I’m out there with people that I know I am way better than.”

In the two years since the world last saw “Sugar” in the Octagon, he made some significant changes to his approach and it appears to have paid off.

“I never had a consistent strength and conditioning coach in between camps, but I have that now and I feel way better,” he said. “I’ve put on good muscle and I can really tell. I trained so hard and so much for this, it’s hard to put into words just how much all of this means.”

After an extended absence, O’Malley did make it known that he doesn’t want to sit idly for too long this time around.

“I’d like to come back as quickly as possible now really,” he said. "I’m not hurt, I’m in shape, so whatever they call with [I’ll take].”