Following his loss at UFC 306 to Merab Dvalishvili, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. The procedure was done in early October, and he has now resumed training in a limited capacity.
O’Malley has been sharing updates on his recovery journey on his YouTube channel, emphasizing his focus on what he can do while he awaits full recovery to engage in grappling activities.
“The good news is that ‘Suga’ Sean is back in training,” mentioned his coach Tim Welch on a recent episode of the Timbo-Sugar Show. “We’ve been doing some mitt work and light sparring.”
In his own words, O’Malley said, “I’m not able to wrestle yet, but I can do some movement, hit mitts lightly, and shadow box. I’m still avoiding grappling for now. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to start drilling in about three weeks. While hitting mitts and moving is okay, grappling still causes discomfort.”
Uncertainty Surrounding Sean O’Malley’s Return Timeline
The 30-year-old fighter aims to make a comeback in the early months of 2025, potentially eyeing a return in April. However, he remains uncertain about the exact timeline for his full competitive return.
“I’m looking at starting drilling in about three to four weeks. Once I reach that milestone, I can work out a plan for my return to UFC competition,” O’Malley mentioned. “April is still a consideration, but I need to see how things progress.”
