When ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley first stepped into The Sphere in Las Vegas, ahead of UFC 306, his reaction was immediate and visceral: “HOLY SH*****!!! INSANE.” The $22 million spectacle, orchestrated by UFC President Dana White, was poised to be a landmark event in mixed martial arts history. As the dust settled, O’Malley stood defeated at the very moment he could’ve been the first one to reach a level of fame never seen since Conor McGregor.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan, without discrediting Merab Dvalishvili‘s efforts, talked about O’Malley’s loss and revealed that the ‘Suga Show’ was suffering from a hip injury before his UFC 306 bout. Something that compromised Sean even further. O’Malley once stated about the loss, “I think it’s good to be confident in your skills, but I overpromised, underdelivered.”
As Rogan sat down for a chat with Cameron Hanes on his #2316 episode of his JRE podcast, he explained that ‘Suga’, while acknowledging the massive hype around the UFC 306, could not say no to White for competing at the event. And why would he miss that chance? It was one of the biggest events in the company’s history, and with O’Malley’s fandom, both the fighter and the promotion had a huge opportunity for a breakthrough.
Joe Rogan revealed, “You know, ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley could have had it if he beat Merab, you know. But that was a nightmare match-up and he had a f…d up hip going into that fight.” However, O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, has a different take on this issue. The multi-faceted coach believes the lighting and the glare of The Sphere were a big reason behind O’Malley’s loss.
Welch said, “I rewatched the fight in slow-mo so many times. There were tons and tons of shots that barely missed by inches that would have completely changed the fight, and I think a lot of it had to do with the Sphere and the lighting. And then not only the injury, I just feel like in our lives that was supposed to happen. It really, really caused us to truly level up as humans. And looking back, it was really good for us.”
While bringing destiny in the midst of it, Welch believed that the lightning made O’Malley miss perfect landing shots by inches. However, no confirmations about the issue have been raised either by O’Malley or the promotion. Yet other big names on the card did not seem to have faced any issues. The legendary Valentina Shevchenko did not seem to have a problem reclaiming her flyweight belt by beating Alexa Grasso. Nor did Diego Lopes, as he dominantly beat Brian Ortega. So could there be more than just one meaning to Welch’s words? Did the big lights and the grandeur make O’Malley miss? Or did the weight of the moment choke him?
Sean O’Malley’s coach says Sphere lighting impacted Noche UFC loss to Merab Dvalishvili https://t.co/8ESA2Bu0SU
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 21, 2025
Amidst all this, a new contender has also entered the bantamweight frame. And no, he’s not just a challenger, he’s a former two-time Bellator bantamweight champion, and after his quests across promotions, ‘No Love’ has finally made it to the UFC.
Patchy ‘No Love’ Mix enters the new guard of UFC’s 135-pound division
Patchy Mix, the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion, is set to make his UFC debut on the same card as O’Malley and Dvalishvili at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, facing the No. 10-ranked Mario Bautista. With an impressive record of 20-1, including 16 finishes and 13 submission victories, Mix aims to establish himself as a top contender in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
In a recent interview, Mix expressed his confidence and determination: “Now that I’m here, I have a chance to prove [I’m the best]. And in three weeks, I plan to run him over, I plan to put him away. I know guys have finished him before, but I plan on putting him away.” ‘No Love’ has the skillset and the resume. And to prove their worth, he will leave no chance as he aims to fight the very top-tier fighters of the 135-pound division after a victory over Bautista.
While talking about the main event of UFC 316 featuring Merab Dvalishvili, Mix said, “A couple of months ago, we were in the gym, and I told him, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen with my PFL deal, but I want to be upfront with you. I could potentially be coming over here, and if we fight, I hope it would be for the title down the line. It’s just business.” ‘No Love’ and many fans believe a victory over Bautista can lead Mix to a potential title shot against the winner of O’Malley vs Dvalishvili. And even after being his gym partner, Patchy Mix wants to face and beat Dvalishvili.
So what’s ahead for Patchy Mix? UFC 316 will play a pivotal role in his path ahead. And then the main event will also have a huge impact on the dynamics of the 135-pound division, as whoever wins the fight will lead the division differently. So, who are you picking between Dvalishvil and O’Malley? Let us know in the comments.
The post Sean O’Malley’s Coach Confirms Joe Rogan’s Fear as Dana White’s $22M Event Under Fire appeared first on EssentiallySports.
