{"id":531416,"date":"2026-03-12T12:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T12:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/531416\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T12:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T12:51:08","slug":"sean-omalley-recalls-leaving-home-at-18-with-just-few-hundred-dollars-to-chase-ufc-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/531416\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean O’Malley Recalls Leaving Home At 18 With Just Few Hundred Dollars To Chase UFC Dream"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sean O\u2019Malley<\/a> recently opened up about his humble beginnings and confessed that he always wanted to become a UFC fighter and never chalked out a career plan B. <\/p>\n

When O\u2019Malley was 18 years old he packed his bags to chase his dream of fighting in the UFC. At that time, he had very limited funds to chase his goal.<\/p>\n

The former UFC bantamweight champion, who trains at The MMA Lab in Arizona under coach Tim Welch, recently told Daniel Cormier<\/a> how it all started. \u201cSuga\u201d spoke about how he saved $2000 and got his \u201ca*s kicked\u201d for 10 days straight by tough Mexicans. However, he had his sights set on signing with the UFC and never gave up grinding.<\/p>\n

\u201cTim [Welch] came down to commentate on a fight when I was 18 years old. He was in Arizona. He was like, \u2018Hey, if you want to train at a real gym, come down for two weeks. let me know.\u2019 Came down. It was 10 days. I\u2019ve never flown or been out of the state by myself. Flew to Mesa, Arizona. Tim picked me up in his Mazda, and I could not believe I was in Arizona going to train.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThese tough Mexicans at The MMA Lab, when I came down to just get my a*s kicked for 10 days straight. Flew back home, worked full-time, saved up 2000 dollars, packed my Nissan, and drove to Arizona, and there was no plan B. I was going to be in the UFC, and I was going to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out Sean O\u2019Malley\u2019s comments below:<\/p>\n

Sean O\u2019Malley says he moved to Arizona with $2,000 at 18 to chase the UFC dream \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no plan B, I was going to be in the UFC.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/G6i2o62bhr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC FIFTH ROUND (@UFCFIFTHROUND) March 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, in 2017, on Dana White\u2019s Contender Series 2, O\u2019Malley knocked out Alfred Khashakyan in Round 1 to earn a UFC contract. Later that year, he made his promotional debut at the TUF 26 finale against Terrion Ware and won by unanimous decision.<\/p>\n

Now, \u201cSuga\u201d is counted as one of the company\u2019s biggest STARS and boasts a UFC record of 11 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw.<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

Sean O\u2019Malley is going to fight at the White House<\/p>\n

After losing his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili<\/a> in 2024 and failing to reclaim it in a title rematch in 2025, Sean O\u2019Malley most recently returned to winning ways at UFC 324 against Song Yadong, snapping his two-fight losing skid.<\/p>\n

Now, the 31-year-old American is a part of the UFC Freedom 250 lineup<\/a> and will fight Aiemann Zahabi on June 14 at the White House.<\/p>\n

A big win next could earn Sean O\u2019Malley another chance to reclaim what he<\/a> lost to \u201cThe Machine\u201d in 2024.<\/p>\n