O’Malley’s Lack of Revenge Motivation in Rematch Against Vera
Sean O’Malley, the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, has expressed that he is not driven by vengeance as he gears up for his upcoming main event at UFC 299 on Saturday night.
Despite holding an impressive 17-1 (1) record, O’Malley’s only setback came in a first-round TKO loss to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in the late summer of 2020. Vera’s strategic low-kicks during the fight led to O’Malley experiencing ‘drop foot’, a condition where nerve damage in the leg causes numbness.
As the rematch with Vera in Miami, Florida approaches, O’Malley has made it clear that he has made peace with the outcome of their initial bout.
“That previous fight never really affected me,” O’Malley shared with the media, including The Mac Life, during his time in Florida. “Considering where I am now, if the fight had gone differently, it might have altered my career path entirely. So, while I’m grateful for how things turned out, that loss doesn’t bother me. I’m looking forward to delivering what I had planned in the first fight.”
“I believe I have the ability to replicate that performance against anyone. However, my goal is always to secure the win, and knockouts tend to happen along the way,” he added.
Aside from his impending fight with Vera, O’Malley has attracted the attention of boxer Ryan Garcia, who has made overtures on social media about possibly facing O’Malley in a mixed martial arts showdown. Nonetheless, O’Malley remains skeptical about the feasibility of such a crossover.
“While I’m open to the idea, the likelihood of that match happening is slim to none. If it were to materialize, I’d be ready for it. However, realistically speaking, it’s highly improbable,” O’Malley stated.
To read more about Sean O’Malley’s mindset going into the rematch with Vera, visit The Mac Life.