UFC star Sean O`Malley has made a candid confession regarding his long-held ambition to surpass Conor McGregor in terms of global superstardom.
While `Suga` Sean has built a significant fanbase since joining the UFC in 2017, known for his spectacular knockouts and unique persona, his ascent hasn`t mirrored the rapid rise McGregor experienced. O`Malley cemented his status by defeating former champion Petr Yan in 2022 and reached a new peak by claiming the bantamweight title with a TKO victory over Aljamain Sterling in 2023.
Last September, O`Malley believed he was on the path to becoming the UFC`s premier star, potentially eclipsing McGregor. However, following his recent loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, the former champion admits his dream of becoming bigger than the Irish icon now seems unattainable.
Sean O`Malley Doubts Matching McGregor`s Stardom
Speaking on The Full Send Podcast ahead of a potential rematch with Dvalishvili, O`Malley openly stated that McGregor operates on an entirely different level of fame.
“I always kinda put myself, `I wanna be as big as Conor… I wanna do that [but] it’s like, I don’t think I could be as big as Conor,” O`Malley remarked.
He described McGregor as a “once in a lifetime character,” emphasizing that his appeal extends beyond fighting skill. “Conor, like to me, was not necessarily [just a fighter]. Obviously, his skill set is really high but when it just comes to all around like entertainment, it’s Conor [at #1] right now.”
McGregor has not competed in the Octagon since suffering a leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021. Despite his inactivity, `The Notorious` remains a dominant figure in combat sports headlines due to his various business ventures, social media presence, and other public activities.
Sean O`Malley Names Potential Future UFC Superstars
With McGregor sidelined, O`Malley acknowledged that the task of identifying and building the next generation of UFC stars falls to CEO Dana White. While the promotion has seen fewer breakout stars recently compared to past eras, O`Malley pointed out a couple of fighters who stand out.
When asked who could potentially become the UFC`s next major star after McGregor, O`Malley mentioned lightweight Paddy Pimblett and former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
“Paddy’s definitely up there,” O`Malley said of Pimblett. “Ilia’s definitely a massive star,” he added, referring to Topuria.
Ilia Topuria is set to headline UFC 317 against Charles Oliveira, aiming to become a rare two-division champion like McGregor. Topuria recently impressed with back-to-back knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Paddy `The Baddy` Pimblett is also nearing a lightweight title opportunity, potentially just one win away after a dominant performance against Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Both Pimblett and Topuria command significant support in their home regions (England, and Georgia/Spain respectively) and possess marketable, larger-than-life personalities that resonate with fans, making them strong candidates for future stardom.
