Bantamweight champion Sean O`Malley reports feeling exceptionally well as he heads toward his anticipated matchup against Merab Dvalishvili.
Scheduled for UFC 316, O`Malley is set to defend his title against Dvalishvili. In preparation for this pivotal fight, O`Malley has not only intensified his training, working alongside prominent fighters like Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson, but he has also committed to removing significant distractions from his life, namely social media and marijuana use.
During a recent discussion with Jim Rome, O`Malley elaborated on the profound positive impact of his social media abstinence, which he began this year (referencing the timeframe leading into the fight).
“Few things can truly be categorized as `life-changing,` but my decision to step away from social media definitely fits,” O`Malley explained. While his team continues to manage his accounts and produce content, O`Malley himself ceased the daily habit of spending hours on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter, engaging with the virtual world. He described this shift as having “completely changed my life in a positive way” and stated he feels no desire to return to his previous level of engagement.
O`Malley clarified his motivations, emphasizing that quitting social media and other habits was not solely a tactical move aimed at defeating Merab. Rather, these steps were taken primarily for his own inner peace. Although he`s never experienced severe anxiety, O`Malley noted a persistent low level of unease. By reducing his reliance on his phone and disengaging from social media, this underlying anxiety has been almost entirely eliminated, a result he deems “definitely worth doing.”
In addition to his social media detox, O`Malley has also abstained from marijuana this year. This represents a significant change for a fighter who was widely recognized for his open support of cannabis and even shared a famous moment smoking with Snoop Dogg early in his career. While O`Malley doesn`t view this break as permanent, he believes the period of abstinence has been beneficial.
O`Malley stated that he hasn`t smoked at all this year. He genuinely enjoys cannabis but found it began contributing to anxiety he wished to avoid. He speculated that it might have been a combined effect of social media and smoking. Regardless, an internal prompting led him to take a break from both. He concluded that stepping away from marijuana has also felt “really good.”
Whether these personal and lifestyle changes will ultimately be the decisive factor in the outcome against Dvalishvili remains uncertain and will be revealed by time. It`s also important to consider another element: O`Malley`s recovery following hip surgery he underwent, which could also play a role in his performance.
Despite these variables, O`Malley maintains strong confidence that he will emerge from Newark still holding the bantamweight title.
“I know I can beat Merab,” O`Malley asserted. “He presents opportunities for a knockout. I am very confident that I can put his lights out. I am equally confident in my ability to defeat him in a five-round fight. There`s certainly a possibility I`ll finish him, but I`m fully prepared to go the distance for 25 minutes. I am ready to have to dig deep.”
