Sean O'Malley knew that fighting was his calling from age 19. Not school, not plumbing, and neither a desk job.
Nearly seven years removed from earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series, the bantamweight champion's goals remain crystal clear with a victory in the rematch against Marlon Vera at UFC 299.
"Me vs. Ilia in September in Vegas at the Sphere," O'Malley said in an interview with ESPN. "I got the Mexican flag right here [in the sprinter van]. "Let's make it happen. That would be the next fight if all goes to plan."
O'Malley's plan thus far has been nothing short of meticulous. He has successfully proved himself in every opportunity he said he would, which culminated with knocking out Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 to become champion in August.
O'Malley said at this stage in his MMA career, now 29, he wants the biggest fights possible.
"I like having options," O'Malley said while discussing who would be next in line at 135. "At the end of the day, what's the biggest fight? I am a prize fighter. I like making money. Why would I go fight, 'Oh, this guy's a f****** killer, but you're gonna make less money.'"Â
O'Malley has arguably been the breath of fresh air the UFC has needed for quite sometime, given the fact that Sterling underwent injuries and took the belt from Petr Yan in controversial fashion in 2021.
Nonetheless, O'Malley will attempt to successfully defend the belt for the first time with a win over Vera, exacting revenge in the process.
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