Sean O'Malley's Coach Thinks Daniel Cormier May Have a Personal Issue with Sugar After UFC 333
Tim Welch, the longtime coach of Sean O'Malley, suspects that former UFC commentator and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier might hold some personal grudge against Sugar, aka Sean O'Malley. Welch commented after UFC 333 that DC seemed uncomfortable seeing Sugar succeed.
"It's always seemed like 'DC' has a little something against 'Sugar,' and he doesn't like seeing him win," Welch said.
Petr Yan Defends Bantamweight Title at UFC 333
At UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, Petr Yan showed why he's still the bantamweight champion. In a trilogy fight against Merab Dvalishvili, Yan lost the first two rounds to Dvalishvili's pressure but rallied with sharp boxing and body kicks to claim the final three rounds. His unanimous decision victory leveled their series at 2-1 and reaffirmed his dominance after reclaiming the belt from Dvalishvili last year.
Next Challenger Debate: Sugar or Song?
After the fight, talk swirled around who would face Yan next. Cormier surprised many by suggesting a rematch between Yan and Song Yadong instead of putting forward O'Malley as the obvious contender. Song was present cageside and had recently knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov. While Yan previously defeated Song by unanimous decision in March 2024, O'Malley holds wins over both fighters, making him appear the more natural challenger.
Welch Questions Cormier's Suggestion
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Welch expressed confusion about Cormier’s pick and planned to ask him directly. Welch noted:
- Welch: "Sugar beat Song Yadong this year by unanimous decision."
- Welch: "Then at UFC 299, Petr Yan won against Song Yadong."
- Welch: "Maybe someone influenced Cormier because Song was there, but I think DC pushed for Song because, deep down, Sugar rubs him the wrong way."
He added he might be wrong but feels there's been a pattern of DC disliking Sugar's success.
Yan's Takedowns Against Sugar Stood Out
Welch also suggested Cormier thought Yan's first fight with Sugar was won due to Yan’s takedown success, which was an unusually high number for Yan in one bout.
Confidence in Sugar's Title Shot Prospects
Despite the odd suggestion, Welch remains confident O'Malley won't miss his chance at the title. Their first fight at UFC 280 in 2022, a split decision victory for Sugar, earned Fight of the Night honors. Both fighters have grown since then.
Welch believes the UFC recognizes the significance of a rematch between Yan and Sugar, saying:
"The UFC knows what the biggest fight is, and they know how sweet of a fight this is going to be."
He encouraged fans wanting to see Song vs. Yan to rewatch UFC 299, noting it wasn't as thrilling. He also mentioned Yan’s likely reluctance to push for a rematch with Sugar when pay-per-view points weren't involved.
Welch thinks Yan remembers how tough Sugar was to handle, especially given Yan’s record number of takedown attempts in that fight.
Impact of Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 on O'Malley's Future
The recent victory of Yan over Dvalishvili benefits O'Malley more than if Dvalishvili had won. Georgia’s finest had defeated O'Malley twice, leaving him sidelined from title contention. Now, the path is clearer for Sugar to get another shot at the belt.
Challenges Ahead for Sugar
Welch praises Yan’s skills but admits the upcoming rematch will be a tough test for Sugar. He said:
"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."
