Sean O’Malley’s foot at about ‘80, 85 percent’, targeting October return

It seems a return to the Octagon for exciting UFC featherweight prospect Sean O’Malley could be closer then he originally expected.

The undefeated O’Malley (10-0) has emerged as an exciting prospect for the UFC since being awarded a UFC contract by Dana White on the Tuesday Night Contender Series back in July 2017. “Suga” last fought at UFC 222 in March, when he defeated Andre Soukhamthath by unanimous decision.

In the third round of the fight, O’Malley suffered a foot injury which left him unable to stand at the end of the fight, forcing him to do his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan while flat out on his back. Speaking to Rogan on this week’s version of the JRE MMA Show, O’Malley discussed his injury.

“I got an X-ray last time and they said, ‘Everything looks good, come back in four weeks and we’ll clear you. I know how my foot feels. There’s days where it’s really sore and there’s days where it’s like, ‘Dude, it’s good.’ I feel about 80, 85 percent.” (Transcription by MMA Junkie)

The 23-year-old said that after his win over Soukhamthath, the UFC told him he would headlineThe Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale on July 6 in Las Vegas. Due to his foot injury, it was too quick of a return for O’Malley, so that card will now be headlined by a fight between Israel Adesanya andBrad Tavares.

“I was supposed to headline that card; I was so excited for that,” O’Malley said. “I think next fight is going to be Oct. 6 in Vegas, the pay-per-view. Hopefully (I’ll) get on that card, but after that, hopefully headline my own. I’d like to fight two more times before the end of the year. (I’m) healing; everything is going good. So I’m hoping Oct. 6, and then maybe November, December.”