Sean O’Malley has made some major lifestyle changes ahead of his bantamweight title rematch with Merab Dvalishvili—but not for the reasons many might think.
Set to headline UFC 316 on June 7 in Newark, O’Malley is chasing redemption after losing the title to “The Machine” at UFC 306. While he’s revamped his training by linking up with stars like Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson, the most significant shift may have happened outside the gym. In the lead-up to the fight, “Suga” has stepped away from social media and shelved marijuana, both by choice, and both for peace of mind.
Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, O’Malley opened up about how unplugging from social platforms changed his mental state.
“There are not a whole lot of things you can probably say are life-changing,” O’Malley said. “But I would say me getting off social media—they’re still running, we’re still making content, I still have a team doing that stuff—but for me to actually not get on my phone, get on Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, engage with the virtual reality every single day, hours a day, has completely changed my life in a positive way.”
O’Malley emphasized that the move wasn’t about beating Dvalishvili, but rather about regaining control and clarity. According to him, constant scrolling was feeding a low-level anxiety he didn’t even realize was there—until it wasn’t.
“I didn’t get off social media so I could beat Merab,” he said. “I did it for my own peace of mind. Getting off my phone, not opening apps all the time—it pretty much eliminated it. It was definitely worth doing.”
The digital detox wasn’t the only cutback. O’Malley, once known for his open love of marijuana, even famously sharing a joint with Snoop Dogg,revealed he hasn’t smoked in months. Like with social media, it came down to mental clarity.
“I don’t think I’ve even smoked this year,” O’Malley said. “Not saying I’m done forever—I definitely enjoy it—but it was giving me anxiety I didn’t want. Something in me just said, ‘Let’s take a break.’ And that also feels really good.”
Whether the changes make the difference inside the Octagon remains to be seen. O’Malley enters the rematch fully healthy, having addressed a hip injury that nagged him during their first meeting. But beyond the physical, he seems more locked in than ever—and ready for a different result.
“I know I can beat Merab,” he said. “He’s open to getting knocked out. I’m confident I can put his lights out, but I’m also ready to go 25 minutes. I’m ready to dig deep.”
