Three men are gathered on a sofa: on the right, one plays a flute; in the middle, another strums a guitar; while the one on the left gently taps a tambourine.
One viewer of the video humorously remarked, “I’d love to show this to someone and ask them to guess who the UFC 135 lbs champion is.”
That viewer is spot on. Sean O’Malley, the one with the tambourine on the left, is not just one of the most skilled fighters in the world but also boasts one of the most vibrant personalities—and hairstyles—in the UFC.
With a captivating presence on social media and impressive achievements inside the Octagon, O’Malley has rapidly earned the admiration of fans and the title of UFC champion.
His distinctive appearance—complete with face tattoos and a striking hairstyle—sets him apart, as does his nickname: “Suga.” This moniker was bestowed upon him by his first coach, Johnny Aho, in their hometown of Helena, Montana, because O’Malley was “just so sweet to watch.” He describes his fighting style to CNN Sport as “beautiful, violent, but not a violent act.”
He has certainly exceeded those expectations.
With 20 professional fights under his belt—achieving 18 wins, one loss, and one no contest—O’Malley currently reigns at the top of the UFC bantamweight division, having already defended his title once. He is set to make his second title defense against Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili on September 14 at UFC 306.
However, his ascent to the pinnacle of this highly popular sport has not been without its challenges.
### The Comeback
O'Malley was on the rise. By 2018, his star was shining brightly, and he was being heralded as a fighter destined for greatness.
However, that trajectory took a sharp turn when he was forced out of competition.
On social media, O'Malley announced his withdrawal from a fight against Jose Quiñonez on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229 due to a failed drug test. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UFC’s anti-doping partner, confirmed that O'Malley tested positive for ostarine—a prohibited substance categorized as a "non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents"—in out-of-competition tests conducted that year. As a result, he received a six-month suspension and underwent hip surgery during this period.
O'Malley intended to make his comeback on July 6, 2019, at UFC 239, but was again sidelined after testing positive for ostarine. Following a thorough USADA investigation, which included extensive follow-up testing, a commitment from O'Malley to maintain a food log, and increased vigilance in supplement selection, he was handed another six-month suspension. USADA concluded that the "pattern of low urinary ostarine concentrations observed in multiple samples provided by O’Malley was consistent with exposure to ostarine as a contaminant."
The enforced two-year hiatus took a significant toll on O’Malley’s mental health. He shared with the UFC’s website that he battled "depression" and "anxiety" during this challenging time while fervently asserting his innocence. Nevertheless, he made a conscious effort to maintain perspective.
“(People) get sentenced for stuff they have never done, and that’s how I feel, in a way,” he reflected. “But it’s so much smaller than stuff like that. I have food. I have water. I have shelter. So, my life is still really good; I just have to make sure I keep that perspective that it could be a lot worse.”
Despite the adversity, O'Malley utilized this time to sharpen his skills. “I feel like I’m twice as good. Overall, I’m stronger in every aspect,” he stated in an interview with MMA Fighting after his return.
When he eventually re-entered the Octagon, he did so explosively, securing two first-round knockouts that reinforced his reputation as one of the UFC’s most electrifying fighters.
However, another setback followed when he suffered his first career defeat against Marlon Vera in late 2020. O'Malley appeared to be hindered by a leg injury from a devastating kick delivered by his Ecuadorian opponent. After the bout, O'Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, revealed that he had suffered damage to his peroneal nerve, which affected blood flow to his right foot.
While O'Malley characterized the incident as an accident, Welch took to his YouTube channel to express his regret, stating that he felt responsible for the mishap due to the ankle wraps being too tight, suggesting that he should have delayed the fight to have them adjusted properly.
Despite this initial loss, O'Malley showed no signs of diminished confidence. He rebounded with three consecutive wins, climbing back up the rankings before his fight with Pedro Munhoz ended in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke.
With his momentum restored, O'Malley proved why he was viewed as the next big star in the UFC. He first bested former bantamweight champion Petr Yan, then captured the division title with a stunning knockout of Aljamain Sterling last year.
Amid all the hype, O'Malley told CNN that he never felt overwhelmed. “I never really felt that pressure of having to perform. I always kind of enjoy it. I get to go out there and do that, so I’m excited.”
But one challenge still loomed before he could fully solidify his place at the top of the sport: a chance for vengeance against Vera.
### Revenge
O'Malley vs. Vera 2 was scheduled for March 9 of this year.
Staying true to his flamboyant persona, O'Malley made a striking entrance for the pre-fight faceoff with Vera, donning black sunglasses, a shiny bright green coat, no shirt, white pants, and white shoes.
In short, O'Malley certainly looked the part. When the action commenced in the ring, he delivered.
Sporting his blue and pink cornrows alongside pink fight shorts, O'Malley showcased an impressive performance, utilizing his “crisp boxing and diverse striking, sharp footwork, and superior speed to dominate Vera for most of the contest,” as noted by MMA journalist E. Spencer Kyte on UFC.com.
O'Malley emerged as a deserving winner, successfully defending his title for the first time. His performance made waves throughout the MMA community.
Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski praised O'Malley’s display as “impressive,” while welterweight fighter Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson lauded his “feints and distance management as some of the best in the game!!!”
After facing significant challenges in recent years, O'Malley reclaimed his position at the top of the division, captivating UFC fans with his distinctive blend of fighting skills, fashion sense, and charismatic personality outside the Octagon.
### ‘Class Clown, Goofy Kid’
In the world of mixed martial arts, few characters are as extravagant as Sean O’Malley.
One of the most distinctive features of O’Malley is the array of tattoos adorning his face. He has “Suga” inked around his right eye and added “CHAMP MMXXIII” above it after claiming the UFC bantamweight title last year. These tattoos have become an integral part of his persona, but O'Malley admits there wasn't a concrete plan behind their creation.
“Some days I just wake up feeling spontaneous or impulsive, and when I have an idea, it’s like, ‘Boom, let’s do it,’” he explained. “At the time, it seemed like a trend—rappers were getting face tattoos—but I wanted to stand out.”
O'Malley believed his fighting skills already set him apart, as he was knocking out opponents left and right. “How else do I stand out? Everyone’s kind of the same with a few face tats and colorful hair,” he noted.
His social media presence further distinguishes him from his peers. O'Malley shares glimpses of his personality and humor through videos where he’s often seen joking around with friends or engaging in quirky workout routines.
He describes himself as the “class clown, goofy kid” and aimed to translate that aspect of his personality into something more tangible through social media. “I always thought of social media as a way to make people laugh. If you can get them giggling, they’ll follow you. Followers turn into dollars nowadays. Views turn into money,” he told CNN Sport.
“I definitely look back at some of my older posts and think, ‘Damn, that was cringy as hell,’ but I thought it was funny at the time. I’ve always tried to be the funny guy, the goofy guy.”
While his charisma and success in the Octagon have garnered significant attention, O'Malley acknowledges that not all of it has been positive. He recalls an incident where, while gaming, his home address was “swatted”—a dangerous prank in which someone makes a false report to law enforcement to provoke a response at a target's residence.
Despite the challenges, O'Malley emphasizes the importance of authenticity for any professional athlete. “Being yourself is crucial; people can tell when someone is trying too hard or not being genuine,” he said. “You have to be yourself while also being creative and surrounding yourself with good people.”
He believes in the adage that life is about the journey, not just the destination. “It’s true,” he said. “Being around good people every day, having a good time, training hard—don’t take life too seriously.”
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