Sean O’Malley likely to test free agency when UFC contract expires: ‘I love boxing’

Sean O’Malley wants to measure his worth outside of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) when his current contract expires and/or is fulfilled.

O’Malley (14-1) is happy with his UFC experience; however, he wants to make the best business decision possible when it’s time to renegotiate his contract with the company. And that means testing free agency.

“I could probably renegotiate a contract right now with UFC, but then I don’t get offers from other places,” O’Malley told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episodes of The MMA Hour (h/t MMA Fighting). “And I’m not necessarily looking to leave, I’m not necessarily looking to go other places, but we’ll see what other opportunities present themselves.

“I really do plan on staying with the UFC,” he continued. “I think I belong in UFC. But also if I’m going to get offered twice as much money to go do something else — I love boxing. We’ll see where it goes. Like I said, I love the UFC, they’ve been nothing but great to me. And I think after this contract is up, I don’t think they’ll have an issue paying me what I think I deserve. But we might be on a completely different mindset there. They might not think I’m worth half a million or whatever the number is. I’ve been on like five consecutive pay-per-views.”

O’Malley last fought short-notice replacement Kris Moutinho at UFC 264 on Sat., July 10, 2021, earning a late third round technical knockout. The Bantamweight fighter recently teased a fight at UFC 269.

UFC 269 is currently expected to be headlined by a UFC women’s Bantamweight title fight pitting Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena. Other notable fights on the card include Cody Garbrandt’s Flyweight debut against Kai Kara-France, plus Montana De La Rosa vs. Maycee Barber.

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