Sean O’Malley was once just a teenager from Helena, Montana, who thought cage fighting looked “disgusting.” Fast forward to today, and he’s now headlining UFC 316 against Merab Dvalishvili, chasing back the bantamweight crown that slipped through his fingers last year.
But while fans know all about his fights and his spectacular knockouts, questions still swirl around his roots. So, let’s dive into the real story behind the ‘Suga Show’ and the people who guided him along the way!
What ethnicity is Sean O’Malley? Early life and background
‘Suga’ was born and raised in Helena, Montana, in the United States. Hence, his nationality is American, but there are a lot of layers when it comes to his ethnicity. For the most part, Sean O’Malley is Irish and British, or 68 percent to be exact, which sums up perfectly with the fact that he has an Irish grandmother.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 10: Sean O’Malley celebrates after winning his bantamweight bout against Kris Moutinho by TKO in the third round during UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3 at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Credit: Getty Images
If you’re wondering how we can be so accurate with the composition of his DNA, the bantamweight champion actually did a DNA test that gave us these numbers, with some more details on his ethnicity.
Add in 17.6% French and German, and you start to see where the exotic mix comes from. There’s even 3.5% Scandinavian in there, giving the former champ a little Viking flair. Now, that’s a big ethnic chain the bantamweight champion’s got there, which leads us to his parents. So let’s explore details about the people who brought O’Malley into this world.
Who are Sean O’Malley’s parents?
Sean O’Malley has been seen with his wife Danya Gonzalez and his mother Louise many times in his Instagram posts. He even went as far as giving his mother one heartwarming moment during a Mother’s Day celebration. Apparently, O’Malley handed $100,000 to his mother and the mother of his child, Danya, as a token of love and appreciation for their role as mothers.
When it comes to his father, Dan O’Malley, the UFC bantamweight champion’s father used to work in law enforcement and is a retired narcotics officer. With his father having dealt with tough situations during his professional career, there’s no doubt where Sean O’Malley got his fearless attitude. Moreover, ‘Suga’s father never really had any problems with what he wanted to do with his life and fully supported his MMA dreams.
MOM & UFC Sugar Sean O’Malley
Thank you @SugaSeanMMA @ufc #mma pic.twitter.com/L0Ut7m5ltz
— Andrew Bui (@AndrewDBui) June 7, 2020
Despite being one of the biggest MMA superstars on the planet, Dan O’Malley would once reveal that his son didn’t really have any affinity for MMA or the UFC growing up. “Sean was probably 12 sneaks down their sees this. He’s like how can you guys watch this? Man, This looks disgusting. He runs upstairs dimes me out, tells his mom, ‘Dad’s down there watching UFC.’ Mom comes down and makes it shut it off,” Dan revealed in a documentary series posted by a YouTube channel named Anatomy of a Fighter.
That same boy would later become one of the UFC’s biggest stars. But besides his parents, what religion does Sean O’Malley look to for guidance while he navigates the world of being a UFC superstar?
Which religion does Sean O’Malley follow?
Sean O’Malley isn’t someone who sticks to a single doctrine. While he hasn’t publicly committed to any one religion, he’s explored spiritual teachings from all over the map.
On his podcast with longtime coach Tim Welch, O’Malley has spoken about being inspired by spiritual leaders like Osho. He’s also touched on practices from multiple belief systems, from Christianity to Eastern philosophy. In many ways, he’s a seeker, not a preacher.
There’s no official label on his faith, but his openness to different perspectives mirrors his mindset in the cage: flexible, unpredictable, and always evolving.
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