Sometimes in life, anybody and everybody with an Internet footprint needs to take a break from using social media. A hiatus from social channels can be done for any number of reasons, but for Sean O’Malley, his recess from social media is performance-based.
Sean O’Malley, nicknamed “Suga”, hasn’t set foot in the famed UFC Octagon since the night of Sept. 14. That late summer evening, against the backdrop of the Vegas Sphere, he suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) during UFC 306.
The defeat spelled the end of a 393-day stint at the top of the heap at 135 lbs. Dvalishvili will make his first defense of the bantamweight crown on the first pay-per-view of the new year, Jan. 18’s UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA versus No. 2 contender Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).
Sean O’Malley Taking a Break From Social Media
At press time, there’s still no word on when or where Sean O’Malley will fight next, as he’s still recovering from surgery to correct a superior labrum tear but once the fight is announced, one thing is for certain: Don’t expect “Suga” to be using his social media channels.
During a recent episode of The TimboSugaShow, O’Malley revealed that he will cede control of his social media accounts to his team members during training camp before his next bout, only returning after the fight takes place.
“I said I was going to start in 2025, but it’s been like two or three days, and already I feel more disconnected from the Internet universe,” Sean O’Malley began. “I’d be working out and I’d check my Snapchat, post some Snapchat, check Instagram. Even just three days or whatever it’s been, I already feel like, the original reason, and I don’t know how to articulate this yet, but I feel like my higher self is trying to tell me something.”
Sean O’Malley Believes Social Media Hiatus Can Be Educational
O’Malley went onto say that he hopes this break from social media channels is beneficial to him.
“I’m trying to learn something, but I’m too distracted and out of touch with reality to grasp what’s trying to be taught from my higher self,” he continued. “I feel like the only way to do that is to just disconnect from distractions. Social media is the biggest distraction right now for me. I’ve already started reading more, writing more, it’s just going to continue to force me to continue to do stuff like that, and that’s where I feel like I’m going to be able to learn this lesson of whatever is trying to be taught to me.”
It’s Nothing New for Other Athletes Besides O’Malley
Sean O’Malley is far from the first athlete to make the decision to unplug from his or her social media channels ahead of an upcoming competition to focus on the task at hand. When LeBron James goes on a playoff run, it’s become a yearly tradition for the kid from Akron to take a hiatus from social platforms to focus on hoops.
In recent years, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates have followed in No. 23’s footsteps in leaving social media channels in the playoffs. The decision to stay offline during postseason has paid off handsomely for LeBron, who’s got four rings to his name, most recently in the NBA Bubble with the Lakers in the fall of 2020.
JOB'S FINISHED: YOUR LOS ANGELES LAKERS ARE NBA CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/Dnxtgt9i1d
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 12, 2020
One of LeBron James’ chief rivals in the NBA, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, has also followed his path in not using social platforms once the postseason begins.
Can Sean O’Malley’s Move to Unplug Pay Off?
LeBron’s decision to curtail his social media usage has worked wonders for him. O’Malley will ring out the old year as the No. 1 bantamweight in the UFC. With a victory in his next fight at some point during early 2025, he’ll be right in line for a shot to reclaim the bantamweight strap in his second contest of the year.
If the hiatus results in a win for Sean O’Malley, expect him to repeat his actions once he bids for the title.
