Former UFC bantamweight champion ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley spent his New 12 months’s Eve not in Arizona, however over in Japan as he attended the unimaginable RIZIN 49: Decade showcase.
Talking to the media after the insane 22-fight PPV occasion, ‘Suga’ revealed that he’d love the chance to compete inside the long-lasting Saitama Tremendous Enviornment however admitted that he’d be cautious about preventing beneath the Japanese MMA ruleset.
Sean O’Malley says he would ‘like to combat’ in Japan after watching RIZIN 49
RIZIN’s New 12 months’s Eve PPV occasion was unbelievable, with the headlines dominated by an in-ring brawl involving a referee, a 6’8” heavyweight scoring a KO in his debut, and an 18-year-old highschooler setting his sights on the UFC.
UFC famous person Sean O’Malley was additionally in attendance and talking to media after the occasion’s conclusion, revealed that he’d love the chance to additionally compete in Japan.
“I imply, proper now I’m clearly [contracted] with the UFC and I plan to be with the UFC eternally – so if the UFC comes right here sometime, I might like to combat on this enviornment. It’s a very good vitality right here.”
RIZIN implements a barely totally different ruleset to the UFC; particularly knees on the bottom and soccer kicks to downed opponents, the promotion additionally makes use of a boxing-style ring, versus the chain-linked fence of the UFC.
“I observed once I went in there that the ring was quite a bit softer than the UFC [canvas],” mentioned O’Malley, explaining how “The UFC platform is thinner so that may be a bit bit totally different.
“The ruleset, for me, I really feel prefer it advantages me extra not with the ability to be kicked within the head as a result of I’m not sometimes the one on high of somebody – if I get taken down, I’m normally on my again so that may in all probability be not nearly as good for me. However it will be attention-grabbing.”
While O’Malley can be cautious about preventing beneath Japanese MMA guidelines, ‘Suga’ did rejoice the truth that the promotion continues to placed on excellent NYE reveals 12 months upon 12 months.
“The manufacturing of this present is unimaginable, the vitality within the enviornment is unimaginable, the ring women are unimaginable – total impression of Japan, this has been essentially the most enjoyable journey that I’ve ever been on, and I might love to return again.”
Sean O’Malley, regardless of not being a UFC champion, stays one of many sport’s greatest superstars – as evidenced by the UFC naming him in its top five best-sellers of merchandise in 2024.
When requested if there was anyone fighter who notably impressed him at RIZIN 49: Decade, O’Malley would title “The actually large man who was dancing and shifting round, he stood out.”
That might be 6’8” heavyweight Ed Polo King, who scored a brutal first-round knockout in his skilled debut – though O’Malley did have one piece of recommendation for the 23-year-old large.
“You may have to have the ability to wrestle, to compete at a excessive stage in MMA you could have to have the ability to wrestle, particularly if you’re a extremely good kickboxer, they’re going to attempt to take you down so wrestling might be the primary attribute that you simply want in MMA.”
We would not hear from O’Malley for some time, with the UFC famous person having lately introduced that he’s set to leave social media as he focuses on regaining his bantamweight title in 2025.
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