Sean O’Malley thinks the bookmakers are getting it wrong.
O’Malley fights former bantamweight champion Petr Yan in the featured main card bout at UFC 280. It’s the biggest opportunity of the young star’s career but, at least according to the numbers, it’s also the biggest challenge, as oddsmakers have installed O’Malley as a +310 underdog (implying a 24.4 percent win probability), something “Suga” was not expecting.
“I think if you asked the smartest guys, the best fighters in the world, ‘What do you guys think?’ They’re like, ‘God, I don’t know. It’s a tough one!’ But if you ask the casuals it’s like, ‘Oh, Petr is going to smoke him. He’s a 3-1 underdog or whatever,’” O’Malley told Helen Yee. “I’m a little surprised but also I kind of get it from other people’s perspective. But I believe I’m better than Petr Yan and I believe I’m going to go out there and beat his ass, so I guess I am kind of surprised.”
O’Malley may not be entirely wrong about that. Earlier this year, Daniel Cormier revealed that he and fellow UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov discussed O’Malley and lauded the skills and abilities of “Suga,” which O’Malley says just proves his point.
“Like I said about the high-level fighters when they talk about me vs. Petr, I think high-level fighters see that I’m a legit motherf*****,” O’Malley said. “I’m not just fancy and do this crazy s***. I have legitimate skills. So it was really cool. Hearing something like that from Khabib, he’s one of the GOATs, so it was really cool.”
If O’Malley is able to prove the doubters wrong against Yan, it will open up a whole new level of superstardom. Currently the second-ranked bantamweight in the world behind only the champion, a win would almost certainly guarantee O’Malley a shot at the winner of the Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw title fight also taking place at UFC 280. And so, when Oct. 22 finally arrives, O’Malley believes we will see his best performance ever.
“I wish this fight was in two weeks, I wish I was in Abu Dhabi right now, I wish it was fight week! I wish I was fighting in five days,” O’Malley said. “I’m so excited for this opportunity. I believe Petr will bring the best out of me. I thought Pedro Munhoz was going to. People talk about that fight, was blah, blah, blah. He didn’t hit me once. It wasn’t going his way, let’s just say that. But I do think Petr will bring the best out of me and it’s going to be an exciting fight.”
TOP STORIES
Results. Benson Henderson wins lopsided decision over Peter Queally, Yoel Romero retires Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin.
Results. Kyoji Horiguchi sleeps ‘Kintaro’ with arm-triangle choke at RIZIN 28.
Boxing. Floyd Mayweather stops Mikuru Asakura at end of second round in Super Rizin main event.
Debut. Cris Cyborg wins decision over Simone Silva in boxing debut.
Correct. Dana White: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz ‘wouldn’t have been good’.
Lawsuit. Eddie Hearn reportedly files $100M defamation lawsuit against Jake Paul after fight fixing allegations
VIDEO STEW
Mirko Cro Cop’s 2006.
Top flyweight submissions in UFC history.
Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann at Conor McGregor’s pub.
Leon Edwards head kick cartoon.
LISTEN UP
DAMN! They Were Good. Celebrating the career of “The King of Rio,” Jose Aldo.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Conor sparring.
Live from the shit hot factory pic.twitter.com/INperp48oj
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 25, 2022
Turning side kick to the face followed by a jumping knee to the breadbasket. pic.twitter.com/7G1rctxcsY
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 26, 2022
I’ll admit, this one is solid.
Shocking. Tommy usually pulls out. https://t.co/EjXCOnhpaM
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) September 25, 2022
Sean O’Malley is about to be very surprised.
I’ll be surprised if I get hit once
— Sean O’Malley (@SugaSeanMMA) September 24, 2022
Accusations from Cat Zingano.
This b***h left to boxing right when I earned my title shot against her and says I’m running?! That’s one way out of drug tests you fucking juice box https://t.co/0htMvuPJQn
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) September 24, 2022
Terrance McKinney staying on The Rock.
Dear @TheRock I wrote you but you still ain’t callin lol Na but for real this is definitely the problem Rock was a cog in the machine of WWE so he knows what it’s like to get told what to do so you’d think he wouldn’t turn around and do it to someone else but here we are https://t.co/XmWrWKKpqt
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) September 25, 2022
Good business idea.
I bet there’s mma fans dying to get behind the scenes. I want to start offering an experience of a life time with each fight. pic.twitter.com/D0O76dfTJi
— Beast Boy (@MikeDavisMMA) September 24, 2022
Jimi Manuwa looking to branch out.
Who’s the bare knuckle LHW champ ?
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 25, 2022
Now this is talent from Angela Hill.
When you can’t walk in heels but you can fight in heels #FancyAnge #CageWarriors143 #StreetFighter pic.twitter.com/gY2o0qzIni
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 25, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke (37-10) vs. Darrick Minner (26-13); UFC Fight Night, Nov. 5.
Derrick Lewis (26-10) vs. Serghei Spivac (15-3); UFC Fight Night, Nov. 19.
Chris Curtis (29-9) vs. Joaquin Buckley (15-5); UFC 282, Dec. 10.
Jeff Molina (11-2) vs. Jimmy Flick (16-5); UFC Fight Night, Jan. 14.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading! See y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
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