Sean O’Malley Responds To Ben Askren’s Recent Criticism

UFC 252 Sean O'Malley
Sean O'Malley, UFC 252 media day Credit: Cageside Press

Sean O’Malley heard what Ben Askren had to say about him at UFC 252, and now he has responded.

Things didn’t go Sean O’Malley’s way this past weekend at UFC 252 on pay-per-view (PPV). “Sugar” and Marlon Vera co-headlined the event in a highly-anticipated bantamweight bout. Many expected O’Malley to rise to the occasion and leave victorious. However, O’Malley injured his leg early in the first round, opening up the door for Vera to pounce for the finish.

O’Malley was in a lot of pain over the leg injury he sustained, needing to be taken to the back on a stretcher. Ben Askren, who filled in for Daniel Cormier on “DC & Helwani” this week, voiced his displeasure with O’Malley allowing himself to be carted off like that.

“He wanted to just be out of there for whatever reason,” Askren said. “If they tried carting me out because of an ankle injury, I would’ve fought someone over that,” Askren said. “You’re not putting my ass on a stretcher because I got an ankle injury. I got one other good leg, and I’m gonna hop all the way to the back. Leave me the eff alone. I think he needs to grow up. …”

Responding on his “The Timbo and Sugar Show” podcast, O’Malley called Askren “slow” for his critical comments.

“I thought Ben Askren was smart,” O’Malley said. (via MMA Junkie) “I didn’t know he was slow. You have an opportunity, you (expletive) your foot up. I had an opportunity. Your foot’s (expletive) up, and you have to walk here to there.

As for O’Malley’s health, he didn’t seem to suffer any significant damage to his ankle. He’s set to visit another doctor later this week for an MRI. However, given the recent video he posted of himself dancing, “Sugar” seems to be doing fine. In his caption he claimed he simply “tripped” in the fight and is fine.