How Did Sean O’Malley Make His Money?

How Did Sean O’Malley Get Famous?

Sean O’Malley has been training to fight since he was quite young. As a teenager, he studied boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Obviously, O’Malley is a talented, dedicated mixed martial artist. Pound for pound, he ranks eighth in the UFC. He currently holds the championship title for his bantamweight division.

O’Malley’s personality, however, also makes him a star yet he hardly needs a spotlight. His brightly dyed hair, wild collection of tattoos, ostentatious style, and lanky frame would get attention no matter how much talent he had. Combining the fighting spirit with an over-the-top style just makes him a mesmerizing character you want to win.

Like many young fighters, though, O’Malley had to go to where he could get proper training and prove his skills. He ended up in Montana, where a trainer gave him the nickname “Sugar” (O’Malley now has “Suga” tattooed above his right eyebrow).

After five fights, an opportunity called him to North Dakota, where he quickly earned a name for himself in the Legacy Fighting Alliance and got included in a knockout reel.

After eight wins from eight matches, UFC invited him to participate in 2017’s The Ultimate Fight: A New World Champion Finale, where he defeated Terrion Ware by unanimous decision.

At UFC 222 in 2018, O’Malley beat Andre Soukhamthath, again by unanimous decision. The match was voted Fight of the Night. At that point, anyone who doubted O’Malley’s popularity had to acknowledge that he was on a track to fame.

Sean O’Malley UFC Champion

Other than his beginning fights and a boxing match against David Courtney, Sean O’Malley has spent his career in the UFC.

His relationship with the organization has had its ups and downs, though. The organization’s anti-doping rules forced O’Malley to pull out of a 2018 match.

He used the time off to get hip surgery. In 2019, he failed a drug test after testing positive for ostarine. He received a six-month suspension.

Since then he has gone on a winning streak and become the UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Sean O’Malley’s Biggest Fights

As of early March 2024, Sean O’Malley has participated in 18 professional matches. He has only lost one match (to Marlon Vera during 2020’s UFC 252 in Las Vegas).

A 2022 match with Pedro Munhoz ended in a no-contest decision after O’Malley accidentally poked Munhoz in the eye. That means O’Malley has won 17 of his 19 professional mixed martial arts matches.

One of O’Malley’s most impressive fights took place in front of a tiny audience on March 27, 2021 at UFC 260 in Las Vegas. Sean O’Malley sparred against Thomas Almeida. The bantamweight fighters struggled against each other for three rounds, lasting 3:52.

During the last few seconds, O’Malley’s impressive footwork knocked Almeida off balance. As Almeida tried to get up, O’Malley walked over and knocked him out with a single punch. The fight was voted “Performance of the Night.”

Many of O’Malley’s fans consider this the best match of his career. Other matches that stand out include:

• UFC 222 (March 3, 2018) against Andrew Soukhamthath — O’Malley won with a unanimous decision
• UFC 248 (March 7, 2020) against Jose Alberto Quinonez — O’Malley won via TKO with punches and a head kick
• UFC 250 (June 6, 2020) against Eddie Wineland — O’Malley won via a knockout punch
• UFC 280 (October 22, 2022) against Petr Yan — the longest fight in O’Malley’s career, he won in a split decision after 5 minutes

Sean O’Malley, the Champion

Sean O’Malley became the UFC Bantamweight Champion on August 19, 2023, after defeating Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292. The fight only lasted 51 seconds. The match was voted Performance of the Night and Performance of the Year.

At the time of writing, Sean O’Malley remains the UFC Bantamweight Champion. That could change when he faces Marlon Vera at UFC 299. Vera is the only person to defeat O’Malley in a professional event, so this match will attract a lot of attention.

Vera has a shorter reach than O’Malley, but that hasn’t stopped him before. He’s the fifth-ranked bantamweight UFC fighter. He’s lost more matches than O’Malley, but he’s also participated in more (32 to O’Malley’s 18), which could give him an experience advantage.

How Much Does Sean O’Malley Earn?

Sean O’Malley’s recent fights have earned him $500,000 plus bonuses. When O’Malley defeated Aljamain Sterling at the UFC 292 Bantamweight Championship, he got $500,000 for participating in the fight, about $600,000 in pay-per-view bonuses, and a $50,000 Performance-of-the-Night bonus.

On top of that, he made an estimated $32,000 from sponsorship deals. Overall, he is believed to have earned at least $1.15 million that night.

The amount he makes in future fights will depend on several factors, including changes in his base pay, the number of people who attend the event, the number of people who pay to watch the event on TV, and whether the match qualifies for extra bonuses.

Even if he loses, he can expect to take home at least $500,000. More likely than not, he will net $1 million even with a loss.

How Did Sean O’Malley Make His Money?

Sean O’Malley makes his money as a UFC mixed martial artist from PPV points, performance bonuses, and sponsorship deals.

His popularity makes it possible for him to earn $1 million or more per fight. He has used some of that money to invest in real estate (he owns six properties) and luxury cars.

Sean O’Malley’s Net Worth

Most people who follow Sean O’Malley’s career estimate his net worth at $2 million. This amount includes a collection of cars and several real estate properties, most of which are located in his hometown, Phoenix, Arizona.

A $2 million net worth might not sound like a lot for someone who recently earned over $1 million for winning one UFC match. Keep in mind that top UFC fighters typically have a lot of expenses to cover. Successful fighters can earn large purses and bonuses, but much of that money goes toward paying trainers, nutritionists, sparring partners, doctors, and other professionals.

O’Malley has spent large sums on items that some people might consider frivolous, such as his pink Lamborghini. Others will say that these purchases are essential to his popularity (maybe just as essential as his wildly dyed hair and face tattoos).

The 29-year-old fighter, however, has made a good financial decision by investing in real estate. UFC fighters don’t have long careers. Randy Couture is the oldest person to participate in a UFC match. He was 47 when he left retirement to join a 2011 match. Most fighters don’t remain active in the sport after their mid-30s, so it’s important to invest money in ways that lead to long-term growth.

Who Is The Richest UFC Fighter?

No one comes close to matching Conor McGregor’s $200 million net worth. The boxer and mixed martial arts fighter has several business ventures, including Irish pubs, a whiskey brand, and an apparel line.

At 35, he still plans to continue fighting but doesn’t have any matches scheduled. The UFC says he will face Michael Chandler at some time in 2024.

Other wealthy UFC fighters include:

• Rorion Gracie ($50 million)
• Khabib Nurmagomedov ($40 million)
• Georges St-Pierre ($20 million)
• Brock Lesnar ($20 million)
• Tito Ortiz ($20 million)

Perhaps not surprisingly, most of the people on this list found ways to turn their fighting careers into other profitable ventures.

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