Sean O’Malley admits that modeling himself after Conor McGregor motivated him but also caused setbacks.
The bantamweight star has often praised McGregor, admiring both his fighting style and the magnetic presence that turned him into a global icon. O’Malley compared his own growing fame to McGregor’s, believing he could reach similar recognition.
Despite his respect, tensions surfaced last year when McGregor mocked O’Malley over his 2019 ostarine suspension. The comment disappointed O’Malley and led to a brief social media exchange.
Emulating McGregor Cost Him Identity
On a recent episode of Between Rounds, O’Malley reflected on trying to replicate McGregor’s persona. He said the effort to mirror McGregor both in and out of the cage caused him to lose touch with himself.
“One hundred percent I saw McGregor as a role model,” O’Malley explained. “I admired how he carried himself into fights and predicted outcomes confidently. I wanted that same confidence. I almost lost myself trying to be him instead of being myself.”
O’Malley admitted that copying McGregor brought early success, but the effect faded before UFC 306. The turning point came when he faced Merab Dvalishvili and lost his bantamweight title in a one-sided unanimous decision.
“That was my second title defense, and I wanted it to feel big. I didn’t feel it was big. I didn’t see Merab as a major name, so I had to force it,” O’Malley said. “It was at The Sphere. I felt I had to create something, and I didn’t like that. I didn’t hate Merab. I wanted to knock him out, but I made it too personal. That was the only time I really forced anything. The ‘Chito’ rivalry felt real, but the Merab fight, I forced it a bit.”
Struggling to Reclaim the Crown
O’Malley last fought at UFC 316 this past June, attempting to reclaim the bantamweight title in a rematch against Dvalishvili. He fell short again, leaving his UFC record at 10-3 with one no contest and six knockout victories.
O’Malley now focuses on embracing his own identity. He wants to build his legacy on his own terms, both inside the cage and in the public eye.
