Sean O’Malley had record-breaking performance against UFC newcomer overshadowed by horrific Conor McGregor injury ...Middle East

Sean O’Malley put on the performance of a lifetime at UFC 264 in July 2021.

But your average MMA fan would have had no clue based on the following day’s headlines.

That’s because O’Malley fought on the same card as Conor McGregor, who broke his leg against Dustin Poirier.

The pair’s trilogy bout headlined the Las Vegas card, and at the very end of round one, McGregor snapped his left leg, subsequently suffering his second successive defeat to ‘The Diamond’.

McGregor hasn’t fought since and talks of his comeback – anticipated by many, but frowned upon by others – continue to this day.

O’Malley, meanwhile, put on a performance that night in July that would lead him to a UFC bantamweight title.

‘Suga’ has since dropped his first piece of UFC gold and makes his return to action this weekend in an attempt to become a two-time champion against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316.

But back in 2021, O’Malley caught the world’s attention with his third-round stoppage win over Kris Moutinho.

His striking masterclass kicked off UFC 264 as ‘Suga’ got a controversial finish with just 23 seconds left.

Moutinho took the fight on only 11 days’ notice, but showed a tremendous amount of heart as he absorbed several O’Malley shots, yet continued to push forward and put on the pressure relentlessly.

However, the UFC debutant, rocking a bright green haircut, was left on the canvas with seconds left in the first round and had to be carried back to his corner.

Yet he pushed through and found himself backing up O’Malley, who was failing to have any real impact.

WARNING: Graphic Images

But after landing a wild 72 per cent of his strikes, ‘Suga’ got the victory with 27 seconds remaining in the third round as referee Herb Dean stepped in, with Moutinho’s face barely recognisable.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan wasn’t happy with the stoppage, even though O’Malley had just smashed a striking record.

“I don’t understand that. I really don’t understand that,” he said.

“I’m just stunned that Herb Dean, who in my opinion is the best referee in the business, just decided he saw enough…

“The kid is trying, he’s not hurt in the sense that he can’t walk. He’s not wobbly, he’s not about to fall down. He’s getting hit, but he’s moving forward. Very confusing.”

O’Malley’s 230 significant strikes, compared to Moutinho’s 70, was just eight short of Nate Diaz‘s 238 record against Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 for the most in a three-round fight in UFC history.

However, he did break the record for the most significant strikes in just three rounds in bantamweight history.

“Kris is a tough motherf*****,” O’Malley told Rogan after the fight.

“He took this fight on 11 days notice, when a lot of people in the UFC wouldn’t take it. Kris is a bad motherf***er.”

O’Malley’s victory improved his record to 14-1 as members of the combat sports world, including Jake Paul and Logan Paul, were hugely impressed by his performance.

“Sean O’Malley the future baby,” Logan wrote on X, while his younger brother, Jake, said: “Lets go Sean O’Malley.

“My boy just smashed the record for most significant strikes in just three rounds. F****** impressive.”

O’Malley went on to pick up wins over Raulian Paiva and Petr Yan, before he defeated Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 in August 2023 to win the bantamweight title.

He then exacted his one UFC defeat to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera by battering the Ecuadorian seven months later.

However, ‘Suga’ would drop the belt in Las Vegas’ iconic Sphere in his next fight against Dvalishvili, who makes his second title defence on Saturday in New Jersey in the main event of UFC 316.

O’Malley must’ve felt an overwhelming sense of pride being on the same card as McGregor in 2021.

He has explained taking ‘inspiration’ from the Irishman during his UFC career amid the latter’s comeback rumours.

McGregor was scheduled to make a return to action last June against Michael Chandler, but was forced to withdraw after injuring a toe.

The 36-year-old has teased his return to the promotion many times, but nothing has been officially announced yet, and many in the MMA world have doubts over whether he will ever come back.

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