Sean O’Malley admitted he was heartbroken after Conor McGregor suffered an injury during his long-awaited comeback fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329.
Speaking on the Impaulsive podcast this week, the former UFC bantamweight champion revealed that he has been a longtime admirer of McGregor and said he was thrilled to see the Irish superstar return to the Octagon.
“I f***ing almost cried when Conor tore his s**t. I was so devastated,” O’Malley said. “I'm the biggest Conor fan… like I started really paying attention to UFC when Conor (arrived on the scene).”
O’Malley explained that McGregor’s rise played a major role in deepening his interest in mixed martial arts and professional fighting.
“I remember the first Conor fight (that I watched) was when he fought Max the first time,” he said. “It was like the first time I really was invested in the UFC because I was already training, I already kind of wanted to be a professional fighter, but I didn't really watch UFC. But I watched Conor's rise from his first couple fights, and to have him back… oh my god dude, I was so excited.”
The 30-year-old also revealed that he believed McGregor still possessed the same attributes that once made him one of the sport’s biggest stars.
“I believed in the power, in the left hand, I believed in (his) self-belief, I believed in old Conor,” O’Malley said.
In addition, O’Malley dismissed speculation that McGregor entered the fight already dealing with a knee injury. Following the injury setback, some fans suggested that the former two-division champion may have been compromised before stepping into the cage.
However, O’Malley said McGregor’s approach during fight week and in the opening moments of the bout made that theory difficult to believe.
“I heard a lot of people saying they thought he was injured previously before the fight,” O’Malley said. “There's just no way he's in the back throwing that same kick as hard as he can into the pads with a compromised knee. And then to come out in the fight and open up with that.”
Drawing from his own experience, O’Malley argued that fighters typically adjust their style if they are carrying a significant injury.
“I've won in the fights with injuries,” he said. “You know, if you're (injured) you fight smarter. You fight to your advantages. There's just no way his knee was compromised, and he's doing that. There's just (no way) in my opinion.”
