Sean O’Malley’s journey to Japan left fairly an impression on him.
This week, O’Malley was a visitor fighter in attendance for RIZIN 49, the promotion’s conventional New Yr’s Eve present at Saitama Tremendous Area in Saitama, Japan. It was O’Malley’s first time collaborating within the annual extravaganza and in a media scrum after the occasion, “Suga” declared his curiosity in returning quickly.
“The manufacturing of the present was unbelievable, the vitality within the enviornment was unbelievable, the ring ladies are unbelievable,” O’Malley stated. “General impression of Japan, this has been essentially the most enjoyable journey I’ve ever been on and I’d love to return again.”
Saitama Tremendous Area is likely one of the most iconic venues in MMA, having hosted a variety of the most important occasions in Satisfaction FC historical past, and the yearly New Yr’s Eve present. As such, the world has a particular place in MMA lore and now, having skilled it first hand, O’Malley hopes to at some point have the ability to be a part of the listing of fighters who’ve competed there.
“Proper now, clearly, I’m with the UFC,” O’Malley stated. “I plan to be with the UFC ceaselessly, so if the UFC comes right here some day, I’d like to battle on this enviornment. There’s an excellent vitality right here.”
The UFC has been to Japan 9 instances total, with 5 of these occasions going down at Saitama, however the promotion hasn’t returned since a Battle Night time occasion in 2017. Nevertheless, White seems to have an excellent relationship with RIZIN president Nobuyuki Sakakibara, with the 2 just lately attending UFC 310 collectively to look at former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura problem Alexandre Pantoja, and just lately urged the promotion could also be concentrating on a return within the close to future.
But when the UFC does return to Japan and O’Malley has the possibility to battle there, he has one situation: he’s sticking to the UFC guidelines, not PRIDE guidelines.
“I seen once I went in there, the ring is loads softer than the UFC,” O’Malley stated, evaluating the promotional rulesets. “The UFC platform is thinner. That will be slightly bit completely different. The ruleset, for me, I really feel prefer it advantages me extra not with the ability to get kicked within the head as a result of I’m the one above somebody. If I get taken down I’m often on my again. So that may in all probability not be nearly as good for me. However it will be fascinating.”
