‘Embarrassed’ Sean O’Malley Ponders Look Makeover After Cody Garbrandt ‘Eye-Opener’ at UFC Atlanta

Former UFC Champ Sean O’Malley ’embarrassed’ to be linked to peer Cody Garbrandt, after his yet another loss last weekend.

‘Embarrassed’ Sean O’Malley Ponders Look Makeover After Cody Garbrandt ‘Eye-Opener’ at UFC Atlanta

Sean O’Malley wants a makeover than look like a tatted Cody Garbrandt (Source: X)

It’s been some two weeks since Sean O’Malley dropped a second title bid to still-reigning UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. Then came Cody Garbrandt’s fight at UFC Atlanta.

Garbrandt’s current run is as misaligned as his new ink above his brow; he started a stellar run from UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier, with a 7-0 undefeated start to his UFC tenure. Notably, he even went up against bantamweight great Dominick Cruz and won a title fight. However, even at 33, his run has taken the biggest of nosedives after that, and he goes viral for all the wrong reasons.

When O’Malley lost yet another title bid, the staunch take was merciless; UFC HW Tom Aspinall presented it looked as if he didn’t want to be there. Garbrandt himself said ‘Suga’ looked like sh*t against the champ. Now that Garbrandt himself has gone into another slump, Sean O’Malley has made a unique realization: he isn’t a fan of any linkage to that guy!

You know what was annoying? …When I saw his hair was braided and he’s got those face tattoos, I was like, fu*k— That’s how people see me…It was just so embarrassing. I was like, oh god, I need to fu*king get a new look…that was an eye-opener. I was like, goddamn it. That’s how people probably look at me. It was embarrassing.

Sean O’Malley in “The Ariel Helwani Show” Exclusive for ‘Uncrowned’ Combat (@ArielHelwani)

O’Malley and Cody Garbrandt had a lengthy barrage of Twitter-banter-sale that led to a confrontation back when they faced off at the UFC 269 press conference; security had to pull them apart. The former champ dissed Garbrandt that he has had one win during that frame since 2017, and things got heated. Right now, though, that animosity is going nowhere. Garbrandt is unranked as a UFC 135-pounder, and after Atlanta, he is 3-7 in his last outings.

On a more critical stem, he sported a braided-back look reminiscent of how Suga does it, minus too many more tattoos. Given the friction, after he lost a UD to Raoni Barcelos last weekend at UFC on ESPN 69, O’Malley quipped he’d rather switch up than look like him. Getting back to his own rebound pace, O’Malley wants to be deniable and earn another shot at gold as #1 135-pound contender.

Sean O’Malley aiming for undeniable third crack at Merab Dvalishvili and 135-pound gold

Sean O’Malley is more than aware of what lies ahead if he wants a top shot at the Georgian champ. This time around, the Syndicate MMA/Serra-Longo (LV) team fighter expanded his arsenal via. third-round submission (neck crank) – 4:42 into the round, to defend gold at UFC 316.

Sean O’Malley planning UFC title heist but put in the work for it
Sean O’Malley planning UFC title heist but put in the work for it (Source: X)

O’Malley is well removed from the equation, and No. 4-ranked bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen has the promise from the champ that he would warrant a chance. Until the guard changes with a turnover in the pecking order, it’s unlikely Sean O’Malley gets a trilogy without the blemish of bossman privileges. For now, though, he sits as the #1 bantamweight on the UFC Athletes’ Listings.

There have been rare cases with top names like Max Holloway against Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier. Suga wants to follow the trend of being 0-2 in consecutive bouts, but build a momentum to warrant a third shot.

For me to earn another shot at Merab, I’ve got to be undeniable, …I have to win a lot of fights in a row. And there’s a world that happens. I know I’m capable of beating Merab. I also know he’s capable of beating me. But there’s going to be part of me that always wants to get that one back. He’s the only guy to ever beat me. ‘Chito’ beat me —— but I got that one back. I proved that one played out the way it was supposed to the first time.

Sean O’Malley further said on “The Ariel Helwani Show”

While Umar Nurmagomedov told the ‘Hustle’ (@AdamZubayraev for ‘Hustle’ Vlog) that he will be champion one way or another, Suga wants to make things right against Dvalishvili. At just 30, O’Malley means to put in the work and put in at least a minimum of one ballot fight appearance this year.

He rebounded well against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 PPV in Miami, and his high-striking output even won him Best ESPY Fighter of the season. He wants a similar storied chapter against the Georgian and is willing to go through the process to earn it.

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