Las Vegas, NV — The Sugar Show is back in business. At UFC 248, Sean O’Malley returned from a two-year layoff — a result of injuries, and hurdles involving USADA and failed drug tests for ostarine believed to be the result of contamination, potentially from a supplement.
Looking no worse for the time away, O’Malley made short work of Jose Quinonez, regaining his momentum in the bantamweight division. Improving to 11-0 in the process, the first-round TKO was enough to land a Performance of the Night bonus.
“I kept laughing every time anyone asked me if I’d have ring rust,” O’Malley said following the fight. Downplaying the notion while speaking to reporters including Cageside Press, he added that “I think it did nothing but benefit my performance. I was able to get really good in those last couple years I’ve been off. So every time I got asked about that, I kind of laughed.”
Later, he’d add that “ring rust is just silly. I don’t spar outside of camp. I think getting hit in the head was a lot more scary when I started this sport. Sixteen years old, every practice was a sparring session. So I haven’t been sparring at all unless I have a fight booked.”
There was no pressure to go out an put on a show, either. Even though that’s ultimately what transpired. “I think just fighting in general is such a sweet thing,” said O’Malley. “The way I fight is not necessarily to entertain, it’s just an entertaining style. I didn’t feel like I had to be anything besides be me in there.”
Although, he also admitted, “I really wanted to get a spinning finish.”
Close enough. Being himself involved setting up the finish with a head kick. The entire affair was over in just over two minutes. Without any apparent injuries, a quick turnaround might be in order.
“I don’t think they have any fights in Vegas until International Fight Week,” O’Malley acknowledged. The 25-year old feels he’s in a position to dictate where he fights next. “I have to look at the calendar, check it out. If nothing pops up, maybe International Fight Week.”
Watch the full UFC 248 post-fight press scrum with Sean O’Malley above!
