Sean O’Malley is pleased that his relationship with Conor McGregor has improved, even though he wasn`t immediately aware that he was the catalyst for it.
O`Malley, a former bantamweight champion, drew praise from his idol, McGregor, after being spotted watching McGregor`s 2016 rematch against Nate Diaz during a YouTube video. The Irish fighter felt honored by the mention and subsequently tweeted support for O`Malley ahead of UFC 316.
This positive turn follows a period of difficulty for the pair. The former two-division world champion had previously been critical of O`Malley concerning his past issues with USADA. However, it appears their connection has recently been restored.
O`Malley Responds to McGregor`s Viral Message
As part of his preparations for UFC 316 and broader lifestyle adjustments, Sean O’Malley had significantly cut down on social media usage. Because of this, he did not see Conor McGregor`s reactions to the video showing him watching the McGregor-Diaz 2 fight during his training camp.
When questioned about the post during a UFC 316 media day, O`Malley was informed about McGregor`s specific comments for the first time. He expressed his delight, saying, “I’ll forever be a huge Conor fan. I feel grateful to be able to watch his come-up in my generation, we watched it happen. I think we’ll look back and say he had one of the craziest careers so it’s cool to be able to watch it happen while I was getting into the UFC and everything. I’m pumped the relationship is back to good.”
Why O`Malley Watched the McGregor-Diaz Rematch
A moment that gained significant attention leading up to his upcoming title rematch was when O`Malley was seen watching one of Conor McGregor`s most famous bouts. He explained that he has been reviewing various rematch fights to find inspiration for his own second opportunity at the world title.
He commented, “We just have cameras recording so much that I didn’t realize that was a moment that got captured.” He mentioned watching several fights, including rematches like Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture, noting he had never watched Liddell`s fights before. He added, “I’ve been watching a lot of old school fights which has been cool. I’ve always taken inspiration from Conor fights. I’ve watched Conor fights more than probably anyone except maybe my fights.”
