Sean O`Malley claims he`s feeling better than ever as he prepares for his crucial bantamweight title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili.
Scheduled for next Saturday at UFC 316, O`Malley will challenge “The Machine” for the belt he lost at UFC 306. In preparation for this redemption opportunity, O`Malley has made significant changes, including training with top fighters like Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson. However, perhaps the most impactful decision ahead of UFC 316 has been eliminating distractions, specifically social media and marijuana.
During a recent conversation with Jim Rome, O`Malley elaborated on the positive impact of his complete social media detox initiated at the start of 2025.
“Few things genuinely qualify as `life-changing,` but stepping away from my social media – even though my team keeps it running and creates content – for me personally, not constantly being on my phone, checking Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter, and engaging with that virtual world for hours daily, has profoundly improved my life,” O’Malley stated. “I have no desire to return to it.”
He clarified his motivation:
“I didn`t do this solely to defeat Merab. I didn`t cut out social media and other habits just for the fight. I did it for my own mental well-being. While I never suffered from severe anxiety, everyone experiences it to some degree. Disconnecting from social media, not checking my phone constantly, has virtually eliminated it. I definitely feel it was worthwhile.”
Beyond social media, O`Malley has also stopped using marijuana this year. This represents a notable shift for a fighter partly known for openly supporting cannabis use and even smoking with Snoop Dogg early in his UFC career. Although O`Malley indicated this break from “electric lettuce” isn`t necessarily permanent like his social media hiatus, he believes the detox has been beneficial.
“I don`t think I`ve even smoked this year. Maybe once,” O’Malley shared. “That was another aspect. I’m not quitting weed forever; I do enjoy it. But it started giving me this anxiety I didn`t want. Whether it was a combination of social media and smoking, something inside told me, `Hey, let`s take a break. We`re pausing social media, pausing other things, let`s take a little break from this too.` And that also feels really good.”
Whether these lifestyle changes will be the key to success in the rematch with Dvalishvili remains to be seen. It`s also worth noting O`Malley had a hip injury requiring surgery before their first fight, which could also influence the outcome. Regardless of the factor, O`Malley is resolute in his belief that he will leave Newark as the bantamweight champion.
“I know I can defeat Merab,” O’Malley declared. “He`s vulnerable to being knocked out. I`m extremely confident in my ability to switch his lights off. I`m also confident I can win a five-round fight against him. There`s definitely a possibility of me knocking him out, but I`m prepared to go the full 25 minutes. I`m ready to dig deep if needed.”
