LAS VEGAS – The comparisons to Conor McGregor have been drawn since [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s emergence onto the international stage in 2017.
From fans to media members to UFC CEO Dana White, many viewers see similarities between the two stars. Much of the discussion has centered around the unique ability of the two fighters to emerge as draws.
O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) himself has acknowledged the analogy in the past, but especially so on the cusp of Saturday’s UFC 306 at Sphere (ESPN+). In his estimation, he’s finally within reaching distance of McGregor’s star power.
“I think I’m close (to his star power),” O’Malley told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “Conor’s still got one more big fight in him because it’s a big question mark. Like, can Conor come back? Can he actually beat (Michael) Chandler? I think Conor has one more huge fight. If he goes out there and loses his next fight, it’ll be like six in a row or something. It’s got to die down eventually. Maybe not. That just tests how big of a star he is. But I’d assume he goes out there. If he loses, I’m there. I’m the guy. I’m the No. 1.”
While the future remains unclear as McGregor’s return gets pushed back further and further by the week, his place in MMA history is largely solidified. Whether it’s his iconic knockout of Jose Aldo or his elite striking showcase vs. Eddie Alvarez or his rivalries against Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor provided some of the most notable moments ever.
So what does O’Malley have going for him that McGregor doesn’t? Well, as O’Malley pointed out, he’s actually been fighting. UFC 306 will mark his fifth fight since McGregor’s most recent competition.
“I bring fights,” O’Malley said. “I fight – often. I think that’s what it is right now. Conor was good on the mic. The accent, the words that he chose, he was very good on the mic. Performances, he had a couple good performances. But I’m just consistent right now. I’m fighting a lot. That’s what I bring.”
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is a tough act to replicate, but an opportunity like fighting at Sphere has that once-in-a-lifetime feel that O’Malley has long sought.
“This is what I wanted, something like this,” O’Malley said. “Obviously, we didn’t even know the Sphere was a thing at those times, but I wanted 1-of-1 kind of moments. This was it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.