Sean O'Malley has made radical lifestyle changes as he prepares for his bantamweight title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili on June 7. The American fighter, who lost to the Georgian at the largest UFC event ever held at The Sphere in Las Vegas, claims stepping away from social media has completely transformed his mental state.
"There aren't many things that can probably be said to 'change my life,' but I would say stopping using social media — though they're still functioning, we're still creating content, I still have a team that handles that — but stopping using my phone, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and connecting to virtual reality every day, hours a day, has completely changed my life in a positive way. I have no desire to use them again," O'Malley said on Jim Rome's sports program.
Interestingly, O'Malley clarified that these changes weren't specifically targeted at defeating Dvalishvili but were instead about his personal wellbeing. He explained that quitting social media nearly eliminated the anxiety he had been experiencing.
The lifestyle overhaul didn't stop at digital detox. O'Malley also mentioned cutting back on marijuana consumption. "I don't think I've even smoked marijuana this year. Maybe I have. That was another factor. I haven't quit smoking marijuana forever. I definitely enjoy it, but it was giving me anxiety I didn't want," he revealed.
Despite his previous loss, "Suga" remains confident about his chances in the upcoming fight. "I know I can beat Merab. He's exposed to being knocked out. I'm very confident I can knock him out," O'Malley stated, adding that he's prepared for a full five-round battle if necessary.
According to Statbet analytics, fighters who make significant lifestyle changes between rematches often show marked improvement in performance metrics and endurance.
The June contest will mark O'Malley's return to the octagon following hip surgery. This new version of O'Malley — social media-free and with altered habits — is determined to reclaim the bantamweight title. Will these lifestyle changes be enough to reverse the outcome against the formidable Dvalishvili? The MMA world is about to find out.
