Sean O’Malley’s Star Power and UFC Results Since 2024

September 12, 2024 462 Views by

Ahead of UFC 306 in September 2024, Sean O’Malley said he believed he was approaching Conor McGregor’s level of UFC stardom. The remark was a claim about popularity, not a measurable ranking. O’Malley lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili that night, lost their 2025 rematch, then returned with two wins in 2026. His record since the interview gives the original debate more context than the prediction alone.

What O’Malley said before UFC 306

At media day, O’Malley said he felt close to McGregor in star power and suggested a loss by McGregor in his eventual return could create room for another UFC headliner. The comparison was O’Malley’s opinion. McGregor’s established pay-per-view history and O’Malley’s younger career made the two fighters’ reach difficult to compare directly.

The UFC 306 title fight

O’Malley headlined the Sphere card against Dvalishvili on Sept. 14, 2024. Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision and took the bantamweight title. O’Malley later said he expected to be sidelined for an extended period while recovering from hip surgery.

A rematch and a return

The rivals met again at UFC 316 in June 2025. Dvalishvili submitted O’Malley in the third round to retain the title. O’Malley returned in January 2026 with a unanimous-decision win over Song Yadong, then knocked out Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The UFC’s official results list all three outcomes.

Popularity remains a separate question

The results show that O’Malley remained an important UFC attraction, but they do not prove that he surpassed McGregor’s drawing power. His comments were made while he was champion and preparing for a major event; his later losses and comeback wins changed his sporting position without settling the broader popularity comparison.

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by Oscar Madison - Sep 12, 2024

by Oscar Madison - Sep 12, 2024