VIDEO: Sean O’Malley ‘inspired’ but not imitated by Conor McGregor, claims other fighters are ‘jealous’ of his success

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Since his first arrival in the UFC, Sean O’Malley has been seen as a future star for promotion. But just because he’s a little loud where he enjoys some flash and glow in and out of the cage doesn’t mean he’s imitating Conor McGregor.

As he prepares to share a tag with the former second-tier champion at UFC 264 on Saturday night, O’Malley said he definitely found inspiration in the Irishman’s rise to fame. But he is quick to dispel any allegations that he is trying to be a McGregor clone rather than forging his own path.

“I think the first time I saw him fight was against Max Holloway,” O’Malley said during UFC 264’s media day. “There’s just something about him like, dammit, I want to watch him fight again, I want to keep watching. I’ve watched every interview he’s ever had. I’ve watched all of his fights so many times. I love the way he carries himself.”

“A lot of people say I try to be like Connor. You can have two people with the same personality. [People say]’Oh, you try to dress like Connor, you try to fight like Connor, you try to act like Connor, you try to act like Connor’ – that’s not at all true. I took bits and pieces and learned from him, which is the smart thing to do. Learn from someone who is so successful and does it well. But yeah, he definitely inspired me a lot. The way he carries himself. The way he handles pressure. The way he gets into these big fights. I learned a lot from him.”

If there is one trait O’Malley definitely shares with McGregor is that he has become a very polarizing figure in the UFC in a very short period of time. Over the course of his career with the promotion, he was apparently called by half the roster vying for £135. He’s also absorbed a lot of criticism of the opposition he’s faced since taking his UFC contract to Dana White’s competition series.

Nothing bothers him. He thinks all the vitriol that comes his way from the other fighters really boils down to one thing.

“[They’re] O’Malley said. “I think a lot of the fighters just don’t get the attention I get. I’m putting in beautiful performances. It’s really a knockout. Back to Alfred.” [Khashakyan] Knockouts, even before that when I was in the UFC, when I fought David Nuzzo, that knockout went viral.

“It’s about the shows. People are drawn to it. I think it’s about the shows and then even the clothes. It’s just the little things that get attention.”

Even as he shares a tag with McGregor, undoubtedly the sport’s biggest draw, O’Malley feels like he’s stealing a lot of the spotlight on Saturday night.

Despite a belated change of opponents, O’Malley sensed his fight as he once again looks to steal the show at UFC 264.

“This is my fight,” O’Malley said. “Even though I’m fighting Chris [Moutinho], who has never been in the UFC before, still performs in huge numbers. There are still many people watching this fight. Lots of people are excited about this fight. I feel like my fan base is just as excited about the fight as is the trilogy, Conor vs Dustin [Poirier]That’s crazy.

“I think the numbers will show that. I don’t know if you can really prove it at all but if you can, I think it will.”

In terms of predictions, O’Malley expects to add another viral knockout to his resume in the match against Moutinho, which will likely further frustrate fighters who already have an aversion to him.

“I don’t just kick people out,” O’Malley said. “Mentally, the way I kick people out, they step into that cage and disagree the next time they go out there. So it could be the start of his career [in the UFC] Or it could be the end of his career.”

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