The fight game beef tends to simmer and boil, especially when championships are involved. But sometimes, pure skill transcends rivalries and forces even the most demanding critics to tip their hats. Sean O’Malley recently showed this rare side of sportsmanship. The former bantamweight champ put aside his ongoing feud with Ilia Topuria while watching UFC 308’s main event.
What he witnessed was nothing short of spectacular. Topuria delivered a knockout with everyone’s jaws on the floor, including O’Malley’s. And the former bantamweight champion had no choice but to express his admiration for his rival.
“Ilia is so dangerous the whole fight. He’s like a little fu**ing Alex Pereira.”
The comparison to Alex Pereira isn’t just clever—it’s spot-on. Like the Brazilian knockout artist, Topuria carries that rare combination of technical precision and devastating power. Sean O’Malley’s observation, especially after their public spat, shows how the real game recognizes the real in the fight business.
The build-up to this moment had been anything but friendly. After O’Malley expressed interest in moving up to challenge for Topuria’s featherweight crown, the two fighters had traded verbal jabs. Topuria hadn’t rolled out the welcome mat, questioning O’Malley’s confidence and fighting spirit.
Sean O’Malley Openly Criticized Ilia Topuria’s P4P Rankings
The UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings have always sparked heated debates among fighters and fans alike. Previously, this spat involved two of the sport’s most colorful characters: O’Malley and Topuria.
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Sean O’Malley, never one to bite his tongue, recently took to X back in July with a mathematical grievance. His issue was that Topuria sat at # 5 in the pound-for-pound rankings while he occupied the No. 6 spot. In typical ‘Suga‘ fashion, he didn’t just question the ranking; he brought height into the equation.
“How’s Illia higher on p4p ? Less title defense and 5 inches shorter. Plz explain.”
But Ilia Topuria, not one to back down, responded with a championship-worthy counterpunch. The featherweight champion fired back with a zinger saying, “Another hater, but this one is ugly as f**k.” This incident made one clear: the pound-for-pound rankings debate will always be an issue of discussion, whether by fans or even the UFC CEO himself.
Also Read: Ilia Topuria Rates Fighters’ Tattoos: Conor McGregor Gets Mocked, Max Holloway Scores High
