Sean O’Malley is the new guy.
After abandoning the bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili in September, “Sugar” is back and ready to regain his crown. As announced by Dana White earlier this week, Dvalishvili and O’Malley will do so on June 7th, heading to Newark, New Jersey at UFC 316.
Finally, the “machine” ruled O’Malley in five full rounds. Many were blessed with the announcement of a rematch, as O’Malley hadn’t fought anyone since the loss.
However, it may not be the case. In a recent episode of the Tim Bossgar Show podcast, along with coach Tim Welch, O’Malley revealed that he has taken several steps since the New Year to cleanse his distraction life and can focus on being the best overall martial artist possible.
“I feel that a lot of things that have changed in my life will contribute to my performance,” O’Malley said. “For example, I’m not involved in social media. I ended social media in 2025. I’m not involved in social media. I feel my life has changed. I’ve only had three months, but I literally feel my life has changed.
“All those little things – such decisions, sacrifices. I don’t think (social media) is a sacrifice, but I give up something, I think it will help me play in the future” (H/T Bloody Elbow).
Sean O’Malley is not the only social media for 2025
Social media isn’t the only thing O’Malley has given up since the New Year. He also took a step back from smoking marijuana and stopped complacency. Or, as “Sugar” puts, he doesn’t have “J’d the Peen.”
“I didn’t peen once this year – not once in 2025,” O’Malley said. “I didn’t go to social without Pean. …I’m not playing games either. I stopped playing games. I played games for two or three hours a day. I have to fill it up with something.
“I also stopped smoking weeds. I stopped randomly. I didn’t feel good. I didn’t eat too much. I’m sleeping better… I haven’t smoked forever, but I don’t feel bad right now.
Whether any of these changes improves his performance within the Octagon or not, it’s great to see O’Malley take the fight game seriously again.