Sean O'Malley has patched things up with Conor McGregor just days before his high-stakes bantamweight title rematch at UFC 316. The 30-year-old fighter expressed delight at having the Irish superstar back in his corner after their relationship had soured in recent years.
"I will forever be a huge Conor fan. I feel grateful to be able to watch his come up in my generation," O'Malley revealed during the UFC 316 media day. "I'm pumped the relationship is back to good."
The former bantamweight champion is set to face Merab Dvalishvili this Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, looking to reclaim the 135lb title he lost last September. Their first encounter ended with Dvalishvili claiming a unanimous decision victory before successfully defending his belt against Umar Nurmagomedov in January.
Interestingly, "Suga" hasn't stepped into the octagon since that defeat at UFC 306, while many analysts are backing the "Machine" Dvalishvili to dominate again. That's what makes McGregor's unexpected support so significant.
The pair's relationship hit rough waters over the past few years, with McGregor previously criticizing O'Malley over USADA issues. But the tide has turned, with the "Notorious" one praising O'Malley's current training camp on social media.
"Very reminiscent of my Diaz 2 prep. Intriguing! BIG FIGHT FEEL!" McGregor wrote on X.
O'Malley admitted he's been studying rematches extensively in preparation for Saturday's bout, including McGregor's second fight with Nate Diaz. "I've watched Conor fights more than probably any fights, well, my fights more, but I've watched a lot of Conor fights," he explained.
Can O'Malley follow McGregor's blueprint and turn the tables in his own high-profile rematch? We'll find out this weekend when these bantamweight elites clash again.
