Latest news with #Diaz2
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sean O'Malley on Conor McGregor: 'I'm pumped the relationship is back to good'
Sean O'Malley on Conor McGregor: 'I'm pumped the relationship is back to good' MORRISTOWN, N.J. – UFC stars Sean O'Malley and Conor McGregor are back on good terms. Ahead of his title-fight rematch against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has been watching some rematches as he attempts to regain his title. One of those rematches was McGregor vs. Nate Diaz, in which "The Notorious" was able to avenge his UFC 196 loss to Diaz by defeating him by majority decision at UFC 202. McGregor took to X to comment on O'Malley's prep. "Very reminiscent of my Diaz 2 prep. Intriguing! BIG FIGHT FEEL!." O'Malley always looked up to former UFC dual-champ McGregor, but things turned weird between the pair last year when McGregor took a shot at him for testing positive for ostarine in 2019. O'Malley was disappointed to be targeted by McGregor, leading to some shots at each other on social media. With McGregor back praising him, O'Malley is happy to reconcile. "Hell yeah, I'll take it," O'Malley told MMA Junkie and other reporters of McGregor on Wednesday. "I'll forever be a huge Conor fan. I feel grateful to be able to watch his come-up in my generation. I watched it happen. I think we'll look back – I mean he had one of the craziest careers. It's cool to be able to watch it happen while I was getting into the UFC and everything. I'm pumped the relationship is back to good." O'Malley was asked why he watched McGregor vs. Diaz 2 in particular, considering that it's a different stylistic matchup than his rematch with Dvalishvili. "So I was watching Conor-Nate. I've just been watching a bunch of fights," O'Malley. "We just have cameras recording so much. I didn't realize that was a moment that got captured. I've just been watching a bunch of fights, been watching some rematches, watched Chuck (Liddell) vs. Randy (Couture). ... I've always taken inspiration from Conor fights. I've watched Conor fights more than probably any fights – well, my fights more, but I've watched a lot of Conor fights."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sean O'Malley issues five-word response after Conor McGregor praise
The American has traded barbs with the former dual-weight champion in recent times, but it seems as if they have rekindled their relationship Sean O'Malley has seemingly buried the hatchet with Conor McGregor ahead of his return to the cage this weekend. The former bantamweight champion is gearing up for a return to the octagon on Saturday as he goes head-to-head with Merab Dvalishvili in an eagerly anticipated rematch at the Prudential Center in Newark. The pair originally clashed last September - with Dvalishvili going on to claim the 135lb title after securing a unanimous decision win. Following that triumph, Dvalishvili successfully defended his title back in January, beating Umar Nurmagomedov by decision. 'Suga,' on the other hand hasn't stepped into the cage since his defeat at UFC 306. Given how dominant the Georgian was in the first encounter, many are backing the 'Machine' to win again. Yet, one unexpected supporter in O'Malley's corner is McGregor – surprising many. Despite being respectful of each other at first, their relationship took a sour turn over the last few years. The pair have traded verbal jabs online- with McGregor slamming 'Suga' over his previous issues with USADA. Nevertheless, it seems they have moved past their grievances. McGregor lavished praise on O'Malley, remarking that his training camp echoes of McGregor's own ahead of his second bout with Nate Diaz: "Very reminiscent of my Diaz 2 prep. Intriguing! BIG FIGHT FEEL!" The Irishman wrote on X. After hearing the news, O'Malley expressed delight at having the 'Notorious' in his corner once more. "Hell yeah, I will take it," O'Malley said during the UFC 316 media day. "I will forever be a huge Conor fan. I feel grateful to be able to watch his come up in my generation, I watched it happen. I think we'll look back, he had one of the craziest careers. It's cool to be able to watch it happen while I was getting into the UFC and everything. I'm pumped the relationship is back to good." The 30-year-old added: "I have always taken inspiration from Conor fights. I've watched Conor fights more than probably any (fights), well, (I watch) my fights more, but I've watched a lot of Conor fights." In preparation for the upcoming rematch, O'Malley revealed he has watched plenty of sequels, including McGregor's second bout with Diaz - to see how they responded in the second bout when they were counted out. "So I was watching Conor-Nate. I've just been watching a bunch of fights. We just have cameras recording so much, I did not realise that was a moment that got captured," he said. "I've been watching a bunch of fights. I've been watching some rematches."
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Conor McGregor appears to end rivalry with UFC star
Conor McGregor seems to have buried the hatchet with former UFC champion Sean O'Malley after the latter admitted that he was "pumped the relationship is back to good.' "Suga" Sean O'Malley fights on Saturday for the UFC bantamweight championship against Merab Dvalishvili in a rematch of their bout last September at UFC 306. Ahead of UFC 316 this weekend, McGregor has been active on social media, lauding the American for his intense pre-fight prep, which includes a recreation of the upcoming fight, including walkouts, crowd noise and more. The Crumlin fighter said that O'Malley's fight prep was "very reminiscent of my Diaz 2 prep", sparking memories of his hugely-anticipated rematch with Nate Diaz in August 2016, which he won after losing the first fight between the pair. Speaking at the UFC 316 media day, O'Malley said "I'll forever be a huge Conor fan. 'I feel grateful to be able to watch his come up in my generation, I watched it happen. I think we'll look back, he had one of the craziest careers. "It's cool to be able to watch it happen while I was getting into the UFC and everything. I'm pumped the relationship is back to good." He also revealed that he was studying McGregor's fights among others in the build-up to the fight, saying "So I was watching Conor-Nate — I've just been watching a bunch of fights, we just have cameras recording so much, I didn't realize that was a moment that got captured" "I've been watching a bunch of fights... I've always taken inspiration from Conor fights. "I've watched Conor fights more than probably any [fights] — well [I watch] my fights more — but I've watched a lot of Conor fights.' Big praise from the championship contender, as McGregor looks to return to the octagon himself. A scheduled bout against Michael Chandler last summer was put on indefinite hold after The Notorious broke his toe in the build-up, meaning his last fight was a 2021 loss against Dustin Poirier where he broke his leg.
