Sean
O’Malley wants to be in the
UFC’s good graces.
O’Malley (19-3) is scheduled to fight Aiemann
Zahabi (14-2) at
UFC White House on June 14. A company man through and through,
O’Malley is honored to have the opportunity to fight at the White
House in a one-of-a-kind event. “Suga” will look to capitalize on
the opportunity and build his brand so he can earn more outside the
Octagon.
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O’Malley believes it’s not a good idea to make enemies with the
UFC. Speaking of which, O’Malley doesn’t think Tom
Aspinall was wise to sign with the management of Eddie Hearn,
who isn’t exactly a friend of Dana White.
Building a Relationship
“I have a good relationship with the UFC,” O’Malley said on
„The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I am honored that
they asked me to be on the White House card, it’s gonna be huge for
me. I’m gonna go out there, make some money. But I’m gonna go out
there and build the ‘Suga’ brand. I’m gonna go out there and put on
a beautiful performance, knock people out, have people remember me.
Hopefully that flows into making more money outside the UFC… You
don’t want to make enemies with the UFC. I don’t get what people
are doing. I saw that Tom
Aspinall signed with the Hearn dude. I don’t know if that’s a
great idea either. You’re gonna have someone manage you that Dana
doesn’t really like? That doesn’t seem really smart. I’m not that
smart, but that’s how I see it.”
While UFC fighter pay has long been controversial, it is making
headlines again after Zuffa Boxing signed Conor Benn. Zuffa, owned
by the UFC’s parent company, signed Benn for $15 million.
Meanwhile, Aspinall has had a small falling out with the UFC after
his heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane
ended in a no contest. Aspinall chose not to continue after getting
poked simultaneously in both eyes by Gane. However, Dana White was
seemingly not impressed and publicly downplayed Aspinall’s injury.
Aspinall recently made headlines by signing with the management of
Hearn, considered a longtime rival of White.