Sean O’Malley Outlines Why He’s in Cody Garbrandt’s “Head”

Sean O’Malley and Cody Garbrandt continue to verbally spar through interviews and social media. According to the rising bantamweight, he’s already got in the head of Garbrandt, and he still believes ‘No Love’ is trying to duck him.

O’Malley on why he thinks he’s got in Gabrandt’s head

Ever since O’Malley took out Eddie Wineland in June,  he’s been driving for a fight with Garbrandt, and he’s also claimed he would knock out the former bantamweight champ.

Well, more recently, Garbrandt was pushing for a fight with new flyweight champ, Deiveson Figueiredo. ‘No Love’ has gotten his wish and he’s been booked to fight Figueiredo at UFC 255, November 21st.

Since news of that match-up made the rounds, O’Malley spoke with MMA Fighting, ahead of his fight this Saturday with Marlon Vera. O’Malley repeated his contention that Garbrandt wants nothing to do with him.

“I don’t think he wants to fight me,” O’Malley said. “I might be a little biased … I don’t think Cody wants to fight me.

“I think he sees that fight, I’m long, I’m tall, I’m accurate, I throw straight punches, he throws hooks. He’s 5’3.” I’m 6’4.” He don’t want that fight.”

“I think I’ve been in his head,” O’Malley said. “I think he probably watched my fight with Jose Quinonez because we didn’t have any beef back then but I bet he was thinking ‘I’m going to avoid that fight’ back then.

“Then I knock out Eddie [Wineland] and he knocks out [Raphael] Assuncao but like I said, I think I said it on a podcast the other day, I respect Cody a lot.

He got knocked out not once, not twice, he got knocked out three times in a row and then he comes back and fights a tough guy like Assuncao and he got the job done.”

O’Malley also noted, however, that at the end of the day he does respect Garbrandt.

““There’s respect there 100 percent but I just think my skillset versus his skillset, I beat him,” O’Malley said. “That’s what it comes down to and obviously not afraid to express how I feel about that fight.”

Future opponents?

All the talk between these two aside, it will be interesting to see if they ever cross paths in the cage. If Garbrandt wins the flyweight title, then it’s hard to imagine this bout happening anytime soon. 

Even if Garbrandt maintains that he plans to still make another run at the bantamweight title to become a champ-champ.

First things first, however, and that’s getting past the ridiculously dangerous, Figueiredo. O’Malley also has a stiff test ahead of this Saturday in the form of Vera.