Scottsdale Health June 2019

There is no other mixed martial arts promotion company quite
like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known for hosting
worldwide events that feature the highest-level fighters, other
organizations pale in comparison to the multibillion-dollar enterprise.
The fights are thrilling, the crowd is energizing, and the
fighters bring their own unique style to the combat sport. “Suga”
Sean O’Malley is one of UFC’s most colorful fighters. His loud
getups and fighting chops, which garnered him an undefeated
record, immediately turned heads. People wanted to know where
on earth this impressive and young competitor came from.
Cage Calling
UFC fighters, sports broadcasters and spectators will tell you
that O’Malley came onto the scene straight out of the woodwork.
In truth, he hails from the Queen City of the Rockies, or Helena,
Montana. Unencumbered by what others thought, O’Malley
marched to the beat of his own drum as soon as he could walk.
“I’ve always been very driven, outspoken, energetic and
creative, even when I was a kid,” he says.
His childhood dream was to become an NFL player. That
dream quickly faded once O’Malley was introduced to martial
arts at age 16. His tall and slender frame had him competing
at the amateur level in the bantamweight division, a weight
class of competitors who range from 123 pounds to 135 pounds.
Taking to the cage like a pro, light on his feet and extremely
fluid, O’Malley found his new calling.
“I realized I could make a career out of fighting when I
started watching UFC more, so when I was about 17 or 18 years
old,” he explains.
O’Malley has been professionally competing as a mixed
martial artist since 2013. A handful of his first fights were in his
native state, and his first fight outside of Montana was in North
Dakota against David Nuzzo. In this fight, O’Malley performed
something out of a Jackie Chan movie. His stunning spinning
hook kick knocked his opponent out and secured him a spot on
Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, a weekly UFC
show established to find new talent.
“The Contender Series was a good night for me. I knew I
would get a contract if I went out there and performed well, and I
did.” O’Malley adds, “I got to meet Snoop Dogg [that night], too.”
The tattooed Montanan with the full, curly hair made his
UFC debut against Terrion Ware in December 2017 – and he
won. Next, he fought and beat Andre Soukhamthath in March
2018. It became clear that O’Malley wouldn’t stand to be called a
rookie for long. In fact, he made it known that when he fought,
spectators weren’t just watching UFC, but they were also
experiencing “The Sugar Show.”
“Sugar [is my nickname] and it came from my first coach,
Johnny Aho. He called me that because he thought I was so
sweet to watch fight,” O’Malley explains.
The Comeback Kid
O’Malley was without a doubt one of UFC’s most attractive
up-and-comers to watch. His tenacity to win was gripping, his
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