Where Does ‘Suga’ Go After a Much-Needed Victory?
Sean O’Malley is coming off a much-needed victory against Song Yadong. This was a huge win for ‘Suga’ as he was at a tough moment in his career. Coming off two big losses, many wondered about the longevity of his career. This win showed that he is still amongst the elite in the Bantamweight Division.
‘Suga’ has always been a star, and the UFC invested heavily in him to start his career. He was a highly anticipated prospect who took the sport by storm. Through his powerful moves and great athleticism, he moved through opponents quickly and earned himself the belt. However, after only one title defense, the belt was taken from him by Merab Dvalishvilli. Plus, even worse, Sean earned another title shot to win it back from Merab, but was defeated yet again. This was tough for ‘Suga’ but also his fans. Many were so used to his flashy finishes and fun style in the octagon. These losses and seeing Sean in a rough place were hard. However, he clearly locked hard into his training and looked much more focused. He did not look for the highlights but more of a dialed and strategic approach. Reasoning for this new approach could be due to Sean thinking about the future of his career and what he wants it to look like longevity-wise. Having a long, successful career in the Bantamweight Division demands discipline. Flashy finishes and big highlights are not a sustainable way to win. Locking in and picking apart his opponents, even if it takes the entire fight, is a much better gameplan going forward, and we saw him display that at UFC 324.
The fans were definitely happy to see Sean back in the win column after many had concerns in his recent moments. This fight showed that he still has plenty to prove, and the losses just required some changes to his training and gameplan, not major testaments to his career. O’Malley should continue to train hard and schedule another fight against a good opponent. Given the right opponents, O’Malley could find himself back in title contention this year.
