Sean O'Malley reminisces over MMA journey
Sean O'Malley recently took to social media, where he looked back on his career and the impossible odds he overcome to get to where he is.
As far as MMA is concerned, Sean O'Malley has done more than most fighters. He reached the top of the sport, signing with the most successful promotion in the world, commands a fanbase that few will ever match, and has brushed shoulders with the men he once idolized as a starry-eyed up-and-comer. So, it stands to reason that he is now looking back on his accomplishments with pride.
Sean O'Malley celebrates his MMA journey
In a recent social media post, Sean O'Malley looked back on his career, which has already eclipsed what most fighters accomplish. He not only enjoyed a strong stint as an undefeated fighter, but became the UFC bantamweight champion, defended the belt, and has main evented four different pay-per-views. It wasn't that long ago that O'Malley first vowed to become a star, so he has now patted himself on the back for always believing in himself, while sharing a short clip on social media about his journey from the bottom to the top of the sport.
"Follow your dreams fam."
Unfortunately, O'Malley fell just short of realizing some of his loftier dreams like eclipsing the great Conor McGregor as the biggest MMA star of all time. He also never quite put himself in position to become a simultaneous two-division UFC champion, despite once aiming to face ex-featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for the belt at 145 pounds. He has since lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili, who outwrestled him to a unanimous decision win at UFC 306. O'Malley then failed to recapture his belt in a rematch at UFC 316, where Dvalishvili submitted him in round two, earning his first finish in four years at the time.
Despite those disappointments, O'Malley has bounced back with two consecutive wins, beating Song Yadong via unanimous decision at UFC 324, then TKO'ing Aiemann Zahabi in round two at UFC Freedom 250. Now, with Dvalishvili having lost the belt to Petr Yan at UFC 323 in a lopsided unanimous decision, O'Malley, who has a win over Yan, will keep his eye on the title picture and hope that Dvalishvili loses to Yan again in their upcoming UFC 333 rematch.
