“He is THAT guy,” When Khabib Nurmagomedov cosigned Sean O’Malley to have special future in MMA way before championship win

Sean O'Malley's ascension to super-stardom was predicted by Khabib Nurmagomedov during the UFC 280 fight week.

“He is THAT guy,” When Khabib Nurmagomedov cosigned Sean O’Malley to have special future in MMA way before championship win

Khabib Nurmagomedov predicted the rise of Sean O'Malley (Image Courtesy - Instagram/Twitter)

Sean O’Malley secured the bantamweight title from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292. A legendary fighter once foresaw O’Malley’s ascent to the top. He is none other than Khabib Nurmagomedov. O’Malley’s journey to superstardom had its initial breakthrough when he delivered a knockout in Dana White’s Contender Series. This prompted Snoop Dog to enthusiastically exclaim, “O’Malley! O’Malley!“

During a podcast with Joe Rogan after UFC 280, Will Harris, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Anatomy of a Fighter, shed light on Khabib’s prescient insight. “He is THAT guy,” Khabib Nurmagomedov confidently asserted in Dubai while discussing Sean O’Malley before UFC 280. Will Harris, Daniel Cormier, and Ali Abdelaziz were present when Khabib made this statement. Following UFC 292, it’s clear that Khabib’s foresight has indeed come to fruition.

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O’Malley secured a second-round TKO victory over Sterling in Boston. He has already expressed his desire for a rematch with Marlon Vera in December. During his post-fight speech, he committed to maintaining the “Suga Show” until 2035. Notably, O’Malley’s achievement marks him as the second Contender Series alumnus to claim a UFC title, following in the footsteps of Jamahal Hill. Will Harris holds Sean O’Malley in high esteem, mainly due to the weight of Khabib’s endorsement.

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Harris shares a close relationship with Khabib and other individuals from Dagestan. He valued the opinion of the former lightweight champion. Given O’Malley’s growing influence within the company, it’s highly likely that the UFC will schedule the rematch between O’Malley and Vera for December. This victory was reminiscent of Conor McGregor‘s trajectory. He has the potential to reach a heightened level of superstardom.

Related: “What they score the second round?” – Sean O’Malley delivers stunning one-liner to haters and judges after UFC 292 electric knockout

Sean O’Malley is pulling for Marlon Vera fight in December

When Khabib Nurmagomedov cosigned Sean O'Malley to have special future in MMA way before championship win
Sean O’Malley (Courtesy: Sports Illustrated)

Following his triumph over Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley has taken the initiative to challenge Marlon Vera to a rematch in December. O’Malley’s friend and coach, Tim Welch, served as a reminder for this call-out. The UFC 292 victory was witnessed by a Boston crowd strongly favoring O’Malley. This has propelled the fighter of Montana origin and Irish descent to new heights.

By beating Sterling, who has victories over bantamweight contenders like Petr Yan (2), Henry Cejudo, T.J. Dillashaw, and Cory Sandhagen, O’Malley has certainly reshaped his perceived reputation. Nevertheless, certain segments of fans have criticized the champion for not targeting fighters like Sandhagen or Merab Dvalishvili, who are currently on winning streaks.

Previously, Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski accurately anticipated Sean O’Malley’s rise, and their predictions have now materialized. When queried about the most popular fighters in the UFC, Dana White’s response of “Adesanaya, Volkanovski, and Chimaev,” will now need to incorporate Sean O’Malley into that list.

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