Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch reveals behind the scenes transformation ahead of high stakes UFC 316 rematch!
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Sean OMalley of the United States (red gloves) fights Merab Dvalishvili of Georgia (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Sean O’Malley made his name with rainbow hair, knockout power, and a lifestyle that seemed more rockstar than athlete. His social media game was as sharp as his striking, building millions of followers who hung on his every post. The Montana native turned cannabis use into part of his brand, openly discussing marijuana’s role in his recovery and relaxation routine. But sometimes life has a funny way of forcing you to reevaluate everything you thought you knew about yourself.
That moment came for O’Malley last September when Merab Dvalishvili handed him his second career loss at UFC 306. The Georgian wrestler didn’t just beat O’Malley, he dominated him for five rounds, taking away his bantamweight title in the process. While O’Malley had bounced back quickly from his first loss to Marlon Vera years earlier, this defeat hit different. It wasn’t just about losing a fight; it was about losing the championship he had worked his entire career to capture. The loss forced both O’Malley and his team to take a hard look in the mirror and ask some tough questions about what needed to change.
Tim Welch Reveals Sean O’Malley Going Cold Turkey On Social Media And Weed
Tim Welch, O’Malley’s longtime coach, recently revealed just how dramatically his fighter has transformed his approach heading into their June 7 rematch at UFC 316. The biggest shock came when he revealed that O’Malley completely cut himself off from social media and marijuana. These two things that had been constants in his life for years.
“He just completely quit the weed and completely got off Instagram, Snapchat and X. Before, every time we’re doing something, his following’s so big, he makes such good money on social media…Now he’s not thinking about that kind of stuff at all. I think he’s a lot more at peace,” said Welch via the Ariel Helwani Show.
For a guy who had been open about using cannabis for recovery and stress relief, this represents a massive mental shift. The social media detox might be even more impressive than giving up weed. O’Malley had built a massive following across Instagram, Snapchat, and X, turning his online presence into serious money. In today’s world, asking a professional athlete to give up social media is like asking them to fight blindfolded. But O’Malley recognized that constant digital noise was cluttering his mental space when he needed laser focus to try to recapture his title.
Whether these changes will be enough to overcome Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling remains to be seen. But one thing is certain, Sean O’Malley has never been more mentally prepared for battle.
(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)