It’s not news that former UFC Lightweight champ Conor McGregor is one of the highest-paid UFC fighters of all time. He is also one of the most popular fighters on the roster and has been the face of the promotion for a very long time. Another fighter, who is somewhat comparable to the Irishman, in terms of popularity, is Sean O’Malley.
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The current UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley defeated Aljamain Sterling to become the King of the division. This was ‘Sugar’ O’Malley’s first title fight and he took the win, quite easily, at UFC 292. Not only did he win, but he knocked out Sterling in a fashion that is similar to how McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo to become the Lightweight champ. However, it seems there is still a huge disparity – in pay.
Conor McGregor’s staggering pay dwarfs Sean O’Malley and his UFC 292 pay
Conor McGregor fought Jose Aldo at UFC 294, back in 2015. The Irishman made quick work of Aldo and won the fight by TKO, 13 seconds into the first round. Sean O’Malley might not have won his first title defense within 13 seconds but the way he won was quite similar to how McGregor got his Lightweight title.
When Sterling reached out to land a shot, O’Malley dodged it and countered it perfectly, with a well-timed right of his own. From then on, all Sterling could do was take hammering shots from O’Malley as he said goodbye to his title. Something similar happened when McGregor knocked out Aldo with a similar counter. This was pointed out by UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 10: Sean O’Malley reacts after his victory over Kris Moutinho in their bantamweight fight during the UFC 264 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
That being said, there is still a big difference between the two fighters – or so it seems. According to reports, when McGregor fought Aldo back in 2015, the Irishman made around $622,000 per second. In total, he is reported to have walked away with a whopping $8 million.
Comparing that to Sean O’Malley’s earnings in 2023 – his first title fight against Aljamain Sterling; official reports suggest that O’Malley made around $1.43 million, in total.
Dive Deeper – How Is Sean O’Malley Connected to Conor McGregor? Are Both of Them Irish?
With 8 years in between the two fights, Conor McGregor’s earnings from his Lightweight title fight still dwarfs that of Sean O’Malley’s. Is it because McGregor is far more popular than O’Malley? Or is McGregor a more valuable asset to UFC President Dana White?
Conor McGregor’s return halted? Is he returning in 2024?
Conor McGregor missed the USADA deadline and upset UFC fans. Michael Chandler, who was scheduled to be his opponent, was furious with the way things played out. However, it was recently announced that McGregor might be making his return this year, in December, to fight Chandler. He even laid out his plans in the UFC, saying that he was coming for Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz next.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 03: Conor McGregor looks on during the filming of The Ultimate Fighter at UFC APEX on March 03, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
However, there is a good chance that might not happen. Since McGregor failed to join the USADA pool in time, it seems the respective authorities are not leaning towards letting the Irishman fight this year in December. However, he recently pleaded with Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor, as well as the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Looks like McGregor has made his peace with the fact that he will not be able to fight this year. Will the UFC and its president surprise us with an interesting twist? Or will we see McGregor fight Chandler next year?
Watch This Story – Amidst Conor McGregor’s uncertain December return, the Irishman gets into a heated argument with Tony Ferguson
