Sean O'Malley claims to be a new man with a clearer mind and enhanced focus going into his UFC 316 rematch with Merab Dvalishvili.
O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) has kept a relatively low profile since losing the bantamweight title to Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) by unanimous decision last September. He underwent hip surgery in the aftermath of his defeat, with expectations he would get an opportunity to recapture gold in his return.
Now that chance is set for the headliner of the June 7 card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), and although it's only been seven months since the initial encounter, O'Malley says he will enter the octagon as a different person not only because of his physical health, but his mental health after shedding multiple vices, starting with social media.
"I feel like a lot of things that have changed in my life are going to attribute to my performance," O'Malley said on his "TimboSugarShow" podcast. "For example, not being on social media. I decided in 2025 I'm done with social media. ... I don't get on social media, and I feel like that's changed my life. It's only been three months, but I literally feel like it's changed my life, and I feel like that's going to play a role in my performance. All those little things –making decisions like that, sacrifices. I don't believe (social media) is a sacrifice, but giving up something, I feel like that is going to help me perform in the future."
Self-gratification out the window
O'Malley, 30, said his limitations also spilt into self-gratification and cutting out hobbies he previously enjoyed such as video games and recreational marijuana use.
"I haven't j'd the peen (masturbated) once this year – not once in 2025," O"Malley said. "Haven't j'd the peen, haven't been on social. ... I haven't gamed, either. I quit gaming. I did a lot of gaming, two or three hours a day, and I need to fill it with something. We've been playing a lot of Texas Hold 'Em poker with the fellas. It's been too fun. It's like gaming. You say, 'One more hand.'
"I quit smoking weed, too. I just stopped randomly. I just didn't like the way it made me feel. I'm not over eating. My sleep's better. ... I'm not done smoking forever, but just right now I don't feel the need to, and I just don't have any desire to. I feel like it's been good."
