UFC bantamweight [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] is looking to bump up his pay ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
O’Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meets ranked contender Pedro Munhoz (19-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) on July 2 at UFC 276, a big step up in competition from his recent wins.
The 27-year-old turned heads when he once stated that he’ll fight ranked opposition only with an increase in pay and after inking a new UFC deal, it looks like he might’ve gotten his wish. However, O’Malley has big aspirations when it comes to his fight purse, and knows he has the drawing power to achieve it.
“I actually recently sat down with the UFC, re-signed with them, and I had a great conversation with Sean Shelby,” O’Malley said on ESPN’s “DC & RC” show. “I go in there, and I say, ‘Hey, I want to make this amount of money. How do I do that? What do I need to do as a business partner to the UFC to end up making the amount of money I want to make?’ For me, I want to get to a point where I’m making a million dollars a fight. Obviously I’m not there right now, and that’s not what I’m expecting to make against Pedro, but that’s where my mind’s at.”
“I want to go in there and say, ‘Hey, what do I have to do outside the UFC?’ Obviously I’m doing what I need to do inside the UFC. I’m putting people’s lights out, and I’m bringing eyeballs to the sport. What can I do outside the UFC to make more money, but I haven’t beat a guy in the top 10. I haven’t even beat guy in the top 15, and I’m balling out. So whatever I’m doing, it’s working.”
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Considering his octagon experience, O’Malley has made a significant name for himself while inking some major deals in the process. During the interview on ESPN, O’Malley showed off his cars, which included a pink Lamborghini.