Sean O`Malley has discussed his future in fighting, including his plans for retirement, leading up to UFC 316.
Ahead of this weekend`s event in Newark, New Jersey, the former UFC Bantamweight titleholder is set for a main event clash against Merab Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili previously defeated O`Malley at UFC 306 in September, claiming the title via unanimous decision.
After undergoing successful surgery for a torn labrum, Sean O`Malley expressed high confidence heading into the title rematch with Dvalishvili at UFC 316.
Should he win on Saturday, O`Malley anticipates his future fights, which could involve a trilogy bout with Dvalishvili or challenges from other leading contenders.
Looking ahead, questions arise about the remaining duration of O`Malley`s fighting career.
Sean O`Malley Targets Retirement Between Ages 37 and 38
Now 30 years old, O`Malley marked his tenth year as a professional mixed martial artist this year.
Having joined the UFC at age 22, O`Malley estimates he could potentially compete for another seven to eight years.
“I want to fight until I`m 37 or 38,” O`Malley stated in an interview with ESPN MMA.
He added, “I`ll continue fighting as long as my body permits.”
“To achieve that longevity, I must prioritize recovery as much as training, which I have been doing, and I believe it will benefit me,” he explained.
“I`m 30 now. I feel I still have several good years ahead of me,” O`Malley commented.
Sean O`Malley Reflects, Says He Should Not Have Accepted First Merab Dvalishvili Fight at UFC 306
O’Malley revealed that his preparations for the initial fight against Dvalishvili at UFC 306 were not ideal.
He was significantly hindered by a torn labrum injury, but stated that the opportunity to headline the high-profile event at the Sphere was too appealing to decline.
Reflecting on their first encounter, O`Malley commented, “I was proud of my performance given how I felt physically entering the fight.”
“I don’t want to make excuses. It wasn`t an ideal camp, but it was a good camp considering my limitations. I wasn’t necessarily overconfident, but perhaps I underestimated Merab’s skills slightly. I know how capable he is. I just had such strong self-belief…”
“So, looking back, yes, I probably shouldn`t have accepted that fight,” O`Malley conceded.
“I tore my labrum in my hip ten weeks out from the fight. Then, eight weeks before, Hunter (Campbell) called and said, ‘Hey, you`re headlining the Sphere…’ And I thought, I can’t pass that up.”
O’Malley also mentioned a premonition of his loss to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, triggered by finding a dead owl on his driveway ten days before the bout.
Percy Harlow