Sean O’Malley’s last fight was a crushing defeat at the hands of Marlon Vera. The Irish-American mixed martial artist had been on a roll prior to this loss, with four consecutive victories in the UFC. However, his performance against Vera raised several questions about his skills and tactics. In this post-fight review and analysis, we will examine what went wrong for O’Malley in his last fight.

Pre-Fight Analysis

Before examining the actual fight, it’s essential to look at Sean O’Malley’s pre-fight preparation. In an interview with MMA Fighting, O’Malley mentioned that he had been training for several months and was feeling confident about his chances against Vera. However, upon closer inspection of his social media posts leading up to the fight, it becomes clear that he may not have been as prepared as he claimed.

Conditioning

One area where O’Malley struggled was in his conditioning. Throughout the fight, he seemed to tire easily and was unable to maintain a high pace. This is likely due to a lack of intense training sessions during his preparation period. In an interview with The MMA Hour, coach Justin Buchholz mentioned that they had not been doing as many high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions as they would have liked.

Defense

Another area where O’Malley struggled was in his defense. Vera’s grappling skills are well-known, and he was able to take advantage of O’Malley’s lack of defense. Throughout the fight, O’Malley could be seen trying to protect himself with his arms but ultimately ended up on the ground several times.

Offense

O’Malley’s offense also left much to be desired. He relied heavily on his powerful striking, which was effective in his previous fights but not as effective against Vera. Vera was able to weather O’Malley’s strikes and then take advantage of his lack of takedown defense.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sean O’Malley’s last fight was a disappointing loss at the hands of Marlon Vera. While he has shown great potential in the past, there are several areas where he needs to improve if he wants to become a top contender in the UFC lightweight division.