Sean O’Malley: The Sweet ‘Sugar’ Of The UFC

Many combat sports fighters want to make more of a statement than just in the cage or ring; they also want to shock the audience with their character and appearance too.

And if you have been watching the UFC, you may have seen a new fighter with pink braided hair and tattoos.

Well, that is the future superstar, Sean O’Malley. Sean has been making a big name for himself, not just for his fighting, but from podcasting and other news. He has recently publicly said he injects stem cells into his penis, which, as you could imagine, hit the headlines.

Who is Sean O’Malley?

Sean O’Malley, nicknamed “Sugar,” was born on October 24, 1994, in Helena, Montana, USA. He began training in mixed martial arts at a young age, inspired by his love for combat sports and a desire to turn his life around after personal struggles in his teenage years. Known for his flashy striking, creative techniques, and vibrant personality, O’Malley quickly rose through the ranks of the bantamweight division.

Sean “Sugar” O’Malley has been one of the most electrifying figures in the UFC bantamweight division. His journey has been marked by rapid ascents, controversial decisions, and resilient comebacks. After his contentious victory over Petr Yan at UFC 280 in October 2022, O’Malley went on to face some of the toughest fighters in the division.

In UFC 292 (August 19, 2023), O’Malley faced Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title. In a stunning performance, O’Malley secured a second-round TKO, claiming the championship and showcasing his elite striking ability.

His first title defense came against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 on September 14, 2024. Dvalishvili dominated the fight with relentless wrestling, leading to a unanimous decision victory and ending O’Malley’s eight-fight winning streak.

The rematch between O’Malley and Dvalishvili took place at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025. Dvalishvili secured a submission victory via north-south choke in the third round, reaffirming his dominance in the division.

Despite recent setbacks, O’Malley remains a prominent figure in the bantamweight division. He has expressed interest in future matchups against fighters like Song Yadong and Cory Sandhagen, aiming to reclaim his position atop the division. With his striking prowess and resilience, O’Malley’s journey is far from over, and fans eagerly await his next move.

Tale of the Tape

Attribute	Sean O’Malley
Height	5’11”
Reach	72″
Weight	135 lbs
Stance	Southpaw
Record	18–3–0 (1 NC)

O’Malley’s journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite setbacks, he continues to be a formidable presence in the bantamweight division, with the potential for more thrilling matchups in the future.

Sean O’Malley Boxing

In 2016, Sean O’Malley was 4-0 in his professional MMA career and unfortunately injured his ankle while sparring at The MMA Lab, which left him unable to train MMA.

Talking on his own YouTube channel, the UFC bantamweight said rather than sitting idle; he trained in boxing instead. He went to a local boxing gym named Hammer Boxing, and to prevent further injury, he wrapped his foot heavily and put on boxing shoes. It only took O’Malley only two months to land himself a boxing fight. Sean won his first and only professional boxing fight.

Sean O’Malley and Bryce Mitchell Controversy

At UFC 280, Sean O’Malley defeated Petr Yan, defying expectations that he couldn’t. He accomplished this through a split decision, solidifying his position as the top contender at bantamweight.

“I also have to pick Yan over O’Malley. This is because, once again, O’Malley has yet to earn that spot. He’s used his mouth to get him that fight. His YouTube followers ain’t gonna help him once the cage doors get locked.”

After winning the bout, O’Malley responded to the up-and-coming featherweight with the following brief statement.

“Your dad f***ed his sister to make you.”

After that, Mitchell responded in an interview with Sportskeeda.

“Yeah, he called me inbred. I’m gonna deal with that when I see him. He’s gonna have to move up, I’m sure; he’s six-foot or something tall…he needs to…he needs to move up a weight class. And I do believe that we’re gonna clash. He can pick how he wants to, but he will lose.”

Podcast with Andrew Tate

Sean O’Malley has a huge following, with over 2.7 million Instagram followers and over 500 thousand Youtube subscribers. Sean continues to grow his audience outside the Octagon as he runs his podcast, The Timbo Sugar Show, with his friend and head coach, Tim Welch. The show has had many famous guest appearances, including Andrew Tate, who discussed a fight between Andrew Tate vs Logan Paul. Tate said on Sean’s podcast that he isn’t past it yet, but insists Logan needs to lay off the juice and prove he is a clean athlete.

Sean also had a podcast with Logan Paul discussing his views on Andrew Tate. Logan goes off saying he would love to fight Tate in the UFC, but Sean claims he can only see ever being a boxing fight.

O’Malley voiced his opinion over the seeming randomness of the face-off video that Jake Paul shared, much like the rest of the world.

Sean O’Malley produced a video on his YouTube channel discussing the potential fight. Tate has a tonne of battle experience, but Paul is the more seasoned professional boxer. This might be a compelling matchup, regardless of how you feel about the two.

The possibility that this might not be a combat setup but rather a publicity ploy first troubled Sean O’Malley, who saw similarities between himself and Paul.

Is that what is next for Jake Paul? A risky fight for Jake. There is always a puncher’s chance, and Andrew is a big dude. Experienced.”

How to watch the fights of Sean O’Malley

United Kingdom residents can watch UFC events on BT Sports. The Ultimate Fighting Championships are shown on BT Sport in the UK, and fight fans may manage all the action for a monthly fee or, very infrequently, through the BT Sport Box Office.

Fans in the UK can watch early preliminary and preliminary matches for UFC Fight Night and UFC PPV events on UFC Fight Pass.

A digital streaming service called UFC FIGHT PASS offers fans access to hundreds of hours of material and live events worldwide. FIGHT PASS offers behind-the-scenes, exclusive, and unique content accessible round-the-clock every day of the year.

When does Sean O’Malley compete?

O’Malley is one of the American Ultimate Fighting Championship’s quickest emerging stars; hence he frequently appears on the Main Card of PPV events and in the main event of UFC Fight Night shows.

O’Malley typically fights between 3 AM and 6 AM BST if he is on the main event of a PPV card in the United States.

These times can change frequently depending on where O’Malley is on the fight card, but if it’s a UFC Fight Night show, it’s doubtful he’ll be competing in anything other than the co-main event.

Final thoughts

As previously mentioned, the entertainment factor is a huge part of the fight game and there hasn’t been such an impact by such a flamboyant superstar since Conor McGregor, baring the recent rise of Paddy Pimblett. Sean O’Malley has hit each and every possible way to male himself a fan favourite, whether it be his eccentric hair style, antics over social media platforms, and his podcast has received a large interest from the fans.

Love him or hate him, there is no doubt Sean ‘Sugar’ O’Malley will progress to be one of the biggest names in the UFC. And at such a young age, there is plenty more to come.