Joe Rogan gets support from UFC superstar Sean O’Malley over ‘sanctioned cheating’ take

Heading into his UFC 316 PPV title rematch vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley has claimed to be a new man with a crisper mind and improved focus. To that end, he has already been thinking ahead. O’Malley has a shift in division in mind. He even upholds the purport of Joe Rogan’s thoughts on weigh-in cut as ‘sanctioned cheating.’

The UFC 316 PPV title challenger recently had surgery on his hip cartilage (labrum) and ballooned up. After UFC 306, ‘Suga’ said it hindered his fight camps and he gained more natural hydration, walking at around 157 pounds. If he gets back his gold at the PPV headliner of the June 7 card at Prudential Center in Newark, O’Malley thus has plans for a shift up.

Joe Rogan had often been a good proponent for more UFC/MMA weight classes rather than drastic cuts. So had O’Malley. To his point, Alex Pereira and his coach/translator Plinio Cruz often go viral talking about the struggles of dropping down some 40 pounds before fights, i.e., sanctioned leeway after getting so big for a division. Sean O’Malley advocated that every fighter should move up to a class suiting their natural body hydration.

Much like Joe Rogan, the former champ has talked about weight cuts before as feeling “like dying.” The practice of shredding by dehydrating so that the fluid from skin layers gets absorbed remains dangerous. O’Malley has plans to keep that to a bare minimum. Now that he is in a better conditioning than before, ‘Suga’ has plans to make weight at higher levels.

Sean O’Malley high on believing that self-belief and training gets it done at UFC 316 title shot

O’Malley said he is aware of a sect of the combat fanbase who won’t approve of him getting a title rematch. Sean O’Malley agreed that there is a fraction of people who bill he arguably got shortcuts to his UFC 135-pound title crack against Aljamain Sterling. There’s also the line of thought that he is not that much of a big PPV draw, despite brass privileges.

Even though a strike-heavy record that won a Best Fighter ESPY, he made only one defense against Marlon Vera. Ahead of UFC 316, O’Malley knows all the criticism to his name. O’Malley, however, is savoring all the doubt cast on him. He said his inner confidence will be a big factor in how the title sequel plays out.

O’Malley said that since his controversial win over Petr Yan in October 2022, his body hasn’t felt this strong. With his groin and hip injuries gone, he is also in a better pre-fight camp. Thus, he even likes his chances for a bid as a two-time UFC champ.

‘Suga’ also believes the loss to Dvalishvili has laid the foundation for a far better performance. O’Malley is still a +225 underdog and early prop on the money line, with the champ sitting 3-to-1 favorite on the picks to win with his monster cardio.

Related: Why Bantamweight is the most exciting UFC weight class right now

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