Sean O'Malley's Coach Thinks Daniel Cormier Has a Grudge Against 'Sugar' After UFC 333
Sean O'Malley's longtime coach, Tim Welch, suspects that UFC Hall of Famer and commentator Daniel Cormier might have a personal issue with O'Malley, known as 'Sugar'. This speculation arose following UFC 333, where bantamweight champion Petr Yan defended his title in an intense trilogy bout against Merab Dvalishvili.
UFC 333 Recap: Yan vs. Dvalishvili Trilogy Concludes
At UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, Yan and Dvalishvili settled their rivalry in the co-main event. Dvalishvili dominated early rounds with relentless pressure, but Yan came back strong, using sharp boxing and body kicks to win rounds three through five. The unanimous decision gave Yan a 2-1 lead in their series and reaffirmed his status as bantamweight champion after reclaiming the belt from Dvalishvili last year.
Cormier’s Surprising Challenger Pick
After Yan’s victory, many wondered who would be next to challenge him. Cormier suggested a rematch between Yan and Song Yadong, rather than naming O'Malley, which puzzled many including O'Malley and his coach.
Song was present at the event and recently knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. Despite Yan defeating Song by unanimous decision earlier in 2024, Cormier still favored Song as the next contender.
Welch Questions Cormier's Judgment
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Welch expressed confusion over Cormier's pick. He noted that Sugar had already beaten Song in a unanimous decision this year, while Yan also won against Song at UFC 299.
"If you look back this year, Sugar has his hand raised in a unanimous decision versus Song Yadong," Welch said. "Then UFC 299, Petr Yan has his hand raised against Song Yadong. So I’m curious if someone was in Daniel Cormier’s ear because Song was there, but I don’t think that was the case. I think DC was pushing for Song because maybe deep down Sugar rubs him the wrong way."
Welch hinted that Cormier might hold some kind of grudge against Sugar, saying, "It’s always seemed like DC has a little something against Sugar, and he doesn’t like seeing him win." He plans to discuss this directly with Cormier to understand better.
Yan vs. Sugar: What Makes This Rivalry Special?
Welch believes that Cormier might remember how tough Sugar was in their first fight, which Yan won mainly due to his takedowns. Yan shot for takedowns more times in that match than ever before, indicating how challenging Sugar made it for him.
Welch also commented on the quality of fights, suggesting that the Yan-Song matchup wasn’t as thrilling as Yan vs. Sugar. He argued that the UFC recognizes the excitement Sugar brings and expects that the next big bantamweight fight will involve O'Malley.
Impact of Yan-Dvalishvili Result on Sugar’s Title Shot
The win by Yan benefits Sugar’s chances for a rematch, especially since Dvalishvili had previously defeated Sugar twice, blocking his path to the title. Now, with Dvalishvili out of the immediate picture, Sugar’s route back to the belt looks clearer.
Welch respects Yan’s skills but remains confident about Sugar’s ability to cause problems. He spoke highly of Yan’s recent performance but warned that facing Yan for five rounds is daunting.
"It’s scary, because [O'Malley] is one of my best friends," Welch said. "Yeah, I’m his coach, but being locked in the cage with Petr Yan for five rounds is a scary thing, but I do think Sugar poses a lot of problems for him."
