Former UFC champion Sean O\u2019Malley doesn\u2019t expect his fighting career to last forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuga\u201d endured a difficult 2025, competing just once in a one-sided rematch with Merab Dvalishvili that saw him submitted in the third round<\/a>. He\u2019s hoping to rebound at UFC 324<\/a> on Jan. 24 versus Featherweight knockout artist Song Yadong, however, and his position in the title picture isn\u2019t so terrible. Dvalishvili lost his crown to Petr Yan, a man whom O\u2019Malley controversially defeated in 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now that Yan has dethroned Dvalishvili and captured gold, the storyline for an O\u2019Malley rematch and title shot is there if O\u2019Malley can just take out Yadong. Despite the opportunities ahead of him, however, O\u2019Malley is already considering that 2026 could be his final year as a professional fighter.<\/p>\n Retirement would be especially likely if he were to come up short at UFC 324<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost so pointless to predict what I want to do in the next five years, two years, three years,\u201d O\u2019Malley said on his YouTube channel<\/a> (via MMA Junkie<\/a>). \u201cIf I go out there and lose and lose, I\u2019m done with this s\u2014t. \u2026 Ideally, I go out there and take care of Song, and then get that Petr (Yan) fight, and then we\u2019ll just go from there. See what life throws at me.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Malley continued, \u201cHonestly I\u2019m getting ready for Petr still, too. I know I can\u2019t look past Song, which I\u2019m not. Song\u2019s f\u2014king dangerous. He\u2019s dangerous. He\u2019s got power in both hands, he\u2019s fast. I\u2019m preparing for him, but I\u2019m preparing for Petr, too.<\/p>\n \u201cPetr knows. That\u2019s what\u2019s next. I\u2019m going to go out there, take care of Song, and that\u2019s what\u2019s next. It just makes sense. 2026 is about to be lit. I\u2019m going to go out there, take care of Song, take care of Petr, (my new business) DoingWell is going to blow up. I\u2019m going to retire. This might be the last \u2018Suga\u2019 year ever.\u201d<\/p>\n A lot of fighters tease early retirements, but O\u2019Malley is one of the few in a financial position to actually walk away. He\u2019s established himself as a figure in the streaming and social media scene, and O\u2019Malley has already proven himself uniquely capable of selling merchandise.<\/a> The former champion has options, and it\u2019s never a bad idea to leave combat sports a little too early rather than too late.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Suga Show\u201d is a hot commodity.<\/p>\n