Sean O\u2019Malley believes no fighter in today\u2019s UFC has matched Conor McGregor\u2019s fame.<\/p>\n
The former bantamweight champion made the comments during his latest appearance on Bradley Martyn\u2019s Raw Talk podcast. His remarks come just months after McGregor\u2019s <\/a>long-awaited return to the Octagon. \u201cThe Notorious\u201d headlined UFC 329<\/a> against Max Holloway in July. This was his first fight in five years. However, the comeback lasted only 69 seconds, as a knee injury brought the bout to an early stop.<\/p>\n Sean O\u2019Malley Names Conor McGregor as MMA\u2019s Only \u201cInsanely Big Superstar\u201d<\/p>\n “Suga” feels that there are different levels of stardom in MMA, and McGregor sits at the top of that list. He said:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to really pinpoint that because there\u2019s the super f**ing star, like Conor McGregor. He might be the only insanely big superstar in the sport. Then you\u2019ve got Paddy, Ilia. There are superstars, but I feel like they\u2019re all still under Conor.\u201d Despite the setback at UFC 329, O\u2019Malley still holds McGregor in high regard and wants to see him back in the Octagon:<\/p>\n \u201cConor\u2019s something we\u2019ve never seen before. He\u2019s up there. He\u2019s the best. God, dude. I hope he comes back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with Pimblett and Topuria, O\u2019Malley also placed former two-division champion\u00a0Alex Pereira<\/a> below McGregor. In his view, popularity alone is not enough to make a superstar, as a fighter also has to perform inside the Octagon. <\/p>\n