Sean O`Malley says he is feeling significantly better than ever as he prepares for his upcoming bantamweight title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili.
The highly anticipated rematch is set for UFC 316, where O`Malley will challenge “The Machine” for the belt he lost at UFC 306. In preparation for this pivotal fight, O`Malley has been training with top fighters like Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson. However, he highlighted two other major changes: stepping away from social media and quitting marijuana.
During a recent conversation with Jim Rome, O`Malley elaborated on the positive effects of his social media detox, which he committed to for 2025.
“Not many things genuinely qualify as `life-changing,` but my decision to disconnect from personal social media use—my accounts are still managed by a team creating content—but for me to not spend hours daily on my phone, checking Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter, engaging with that virtual reality, has completely transformed my life for the better,” O`Malley explained. “I have absolutely no desire to go back.”
He clarified his reasoning: “This wasn`t something I did solely to gain an advantage over Merab. I didn`t quit social media or change other habits just for this fight. My primary motivation was my own peace of mind. While I`ve never experienced severe anxiety, there`s always a baseline level for everyone. Cutting off social media and constant phone checking has essentially eliminated that for me. It feels like it was definitely the right decision.”
Beyond social media, O`Malley also stopped using cannabis this year. This is a notable change for a fighter who has been openly supportive of weed and even smoked with Snoop Dogg early in his career. While he doesn`t view this as a permanent cessation, he feels the break has been beneficial.
“I don`t think I`ve even smoked this year, maybe just once,” O`Malley commented. “That was another step. I`m not saying I`m done with smoking weed forever; I definitely enjoy it. But it started contributing to a type of anxiety I didn`t want. It might have been a mix of social media use and smoking, but something inside me told me to take a pause. And that feels really good as well.”
Whether these lifestyle adjustments will be the key factor in the rematch against Dvalishvili remains to be seen. Another potential influence is the hip injury O`Malley had entering their first fight, which has since been surgically repaired. Whatever the cause, O`Malley is confident he will leave Newark as the bantamweight champion.
“I know I can beat Merab,” O`Malley asserted. “He has vulnerabilities to getting knocked out. I`m very confident I can turn his lights off. I`m also confident I can outwork him over five rounds. While a knockout is certainly a possibility, I am fully prepared for 25 minutes and ready to dig deep if necessary.”
Wesley Dunham