The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Daniel Cormier TV - Sean O'Malley calls Chito Vera "JEALOUS and INSECURE" ahead of UFC 299

Episode Date: March 7, 2024

Daniel Cormier checks in with Sean O'Malley ahead of a MASSIVE championship fight against Marlon "Chito" Vera at UFC 299 in Miami. O'Malley tells Cormier exactly how he plans to bounce back from his only loss in the UFC to date against Chito. And O'Malley describes what it's like for him to walkout into the arena and the secret to appearing so calm. Plus, don't miss O'Malley reveal to DC that there are DMs between him and Chito Vera! 4:15 - O'Malley's WILD career path6:50 - Looking back at early stages7:00 - Beating Aljamain Sterling in Boston12:00 - Suga Sean believes he's actually undefeated13:55 - Fight vs. Chito Vera at UFC 299 #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

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What's up, dog? How are you feeling? How are you feeling? You look like a million dollars. Dang. Here we go. Sean O'Malley, again. Yo, man, I want to tell you, thank you for always

being so gracious with your time. Of course. Every time the fight's happened, we get to sit down and chat. You know, when guys start, Sometimes they get the rub and it seems like they're going to go to the moon, but then it doesn't work out. We saw it very recently with Joe Piper. We've seen it with Raul Roses Jr.

A number of people that come off in a contender series and they have all this excitement around them that doesn't quite pan out. What is allowed for you to make sure that it's worked? That is a good question, and it is rare that a career plays out like this. and I attribute it to my discipline to sport. I've really given everything to become champ. I've lived a lifestyle. I've put in work. I've been doing this for 13 years,

so it's not an overnight thing. And each camp, I just put in the work. I put in the preparation and, you know, out of camp as well. So I think that's a big thing that has led to the successes of my routine. You know, I think, you know what's crazy? I think that gets overlooked with you. It does. Because everybody sees the flashy life, but nobody sees what's happening away from the cameras.

Yeah. And that's where you've got to be getting better. Like how much are you, how much time are you spending trying to still get better? Because I think when I was the champion, it was in between fight camps where I made jumps. And that's why you feel better when you step in the octa. How much time are you spending doing that? Yeah, I mean, there's no offseason in fighting, you know? It's all year round trying to improve.

But it's the guys I'm around. It's the teammates. It's, I'm going into the gym and getting beat pretty much every day at some point. It's not, it's not like I'm going in there. I'm the fucking man. I'm winning all these, you know, every round, everything. I'm getting beat every day. But you're lying, though.

No, no, listen, you're lying, though. Because I know why, I know why, because again, right, I live this life. You create situations where you get beat. People misunderstand when people say that. I get beat every day. Well, we get beat every day because you got three. partners. They're rotating. It's not like one guy's just in there beating you. And I think that gets a little bit misconstrued whenever people hear that comment because most champions say it.

But we all try to create situations to get beat so that when you have to deal with adversity inside the octagon, you're more than ready to do it. Yeah, 100%. I mean, you're not going to show up on a game every day. The thing I feel like I'm the best in the world that is showing up on that specific day in that specific moment and performing at the highest level. I think that's what I'm the best in the world that I've obviously have good skills, but I can knock anyone out on any night.

You pick the night, you tell me how long I got to do it, and I'm going to knock that person out. You know, when you look back at like, you know, the struggle, right? The struggle to get here. How often do you take note of it? Right? Because, like, everybody wants to talk about the things that we went through when we were younger and there's pictures of us, obviously,

and it's like the things we did and this and this, and it almost as if they want to ignore the struggle to get here once they see you here. How often do you take note and you look at some of those older photos of you when situation wasn't so good and go, man, young man, you have come a long way to be who you are today.

Yeah, for, it is, you know, the struggle was there, like, is this going to work? Am I going to make it? I was always on the side of, I'm going to make it, it's going to happen, So I was always kind of able to enjoy that little bit. Like I'm broke, but I'm not going to be forever. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know this is going to work. So even when I was broke, like Tim and I lived in a shitty apartment together, $660 a month, a little two-bedroom apartment, pretty close to the gym, went to the gym twice a day. Like those were fun days. Like we were, you know, I was living, you know, a couple hundred, like $800 a month was what I was getting by with for years. And, uh, I just, I enjoyed that time. It was, it wasn't.

I hope this works out. This is going to work out. I'm putting in the work. It's going to work out. It's like the most innocent times. And those are the times that when it's done, you'll look back on it and go, man, we made that work,

and it ultimately led to who I became and today, you're the UFC champion, right? That fight in Boston with Al Jermaine Sterling. You said you were going to do that. But then you go out and do it, and then you come out to that song, Superstar. The crowd goes crazy. In that moment, what did you feel?

Was it like a calm? There was a relief? Like what did it feel like? Yeah, I would say a very calm. Every time I walk out, I just kind of get to this mental place where I'm very calm, you know, accepting of whatever happens is going to happen. I'm not really trying to like, I'm just accepting, you know, win or lose. I got good people around me. Life's good. This isn't going to define my life. So I feel like me being able to accept that really allows me to be able to actually kind of enter that flow and do what I need to do. So I walking out, I'm very calm, you know, ready to kill, obviously. You can't be too calm. But for the most part, I'm calm with, you know, but ready to kill. Was it what you expected? The fight?

I mean, with Alja, was it what you expected? I knew that could play out like that. I knew, to me, Alger was the hardest fight in the division. That was the guy that was, you know, the number of, he was the champ, obviously. The champ always isn't the hardest to fight in the division. In that case, Al Jemaine Sterling was the hardest fight in the division. And I said it over and over. I know what I possess in this right hand.

I know I can put his lights out. I have to fight a perfect fight to beat this guy. And I did. My whole game plan going into that fight was not let him grab me. And if he does separate as fast as possible, make him overcommit and really capitalize on that overcommitment. And that is literally, you know, what happened. He grabbed me and I got out as fast as I could because I did not want to be there. Did you see, like when you watch the replay, you see him kind of overextend and he closes his eyes because he knows.

it's coming. Isn't that the craziest visual? Like when you go back and watch it, because I asked him personally, I go, did you know he was like, I knew something bad was about to happen? Because you could see him close his eyes and almost try to brace himself for what was coming. Obviously, the right hand puts him down. Like, when you watch that, you're like, man, it was like the perfect trip. It doesn't happen like that always. Yeah, no, I mean, yeah, it is weird to watch back. I've watched it so many times. And I mean, it really wasn't that, he didn't overcomit that bad. You know, you see people overcommit like that and fights all the time, but they don't get capitalized like that. And, you know, I'm a very dangerous striker.

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I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

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Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So, we get to Cheeto Vera. You and Cheeto Vera, Chale and I have a show now, and he calls it the Sugar State Commission. That says that you're undefeated, which

allows him to be undefeated. Chell is not undefeated. I don't care how many times And Chale says he's undefeated. Chil's ass got beat. I was there. I watched it. And it wasn't just because his legs started to kind of trip. His ass got submitted a few times and shit.

I saw it. But Chale is lying. You believe that you're undefeated still. Based on how it happened. You and I fought the same night. That was the last time I ever fought. I was in the back watching you guys fighting in. The fight started.

You were having success. And then you take a bad step. Why was it Cheeto as the guy just to try to make that What made you say, because there are very few guys, Sean, that have a saying who they're going to fight. You are one of them. What made you say, Cheeto Vera? Yeah, I mean, he won on the same night. There's history there.

I'm now getting pay-per-view points. Who's the biggest fight for me to go defend the belt and make the most money? And that's Cheeto. The backstories there. He's somewhat of a superstar. Well, he's somewhat of a star. And I think it just made the most sense. And for me, you know, that's what I called Ely.

I thought people would love that. I thought people would go crazy. I got a lot of hate for it. Dude, I'm right. I want to tell you that. I want to tell you that. So they call us talking heads, right?

Because you only see us at the desk. You only see the top. So the talking heads, when you said that, we all said, while Sean has the potential to be a guy that could challenge, there's work to be done in that division.

I'm there for it. How much of that stuff do you take note of? Right? Like when I'm like, yeah, I don't necessarily said, I don't need to see him fight yet. I want to see them fight other guys

in their division first. Yeah. And I'm cool with that. I thought people would be excited. Like, oh, you're calling out, Ely. That's crazy. He's scary. He's knocked out Volk.

But, you know, it wasn't that. That was not how I got received. It was your duck and mirab. So I have no problem knocking Marab out. I actually, you know, would enjoy that. So, yeah, I'll knock Marab out. Elyle goes out there and does his thing. And we just build that fight, make it bigger than it would be if we fought now.

So I'm okay with either scenario. Chidover is traditionally a very slow starter. If he starts slow, what happens? happens on Saturday night. I mean that's what makes him dangerous you know because it is a five-round fight. Him starting slow is kind of more of an energy, you know, he's saving that energy so he can kind of come on later in the ends of the rounds. So, you know, it's not necessarily, um, it, there's pros and cons to everyone's style. You come out there fast and I try to knock them out and I don't. You know, now I got problems in the later round. So, um, yeah, I mean, styles make matchups and this is an interesting style fight for the fans. Everybody seems to love Cheeto

Right, he's the surfer dude He's always smoking and running and he's like He seems like a pretty cool dude to hang out with But you guys don't seem to mesh What is it? Is it just a fight or is there something about Marlon Vera that you don't really kind of like that much? Yeah, I don't know. It's a good question Maybe in another universe we could be buds

It would seem like you two would get along Yeah, it would I don't know, there's something You know, I think it's more personal on his end He doesn't like me He's maybe a tad bit jealous of where we're at in our careers. Maybe he's a little insecure.

We had a little conversation in the DMs. I don't know if you're sitting down with him later, but you can ask. I am, yeah, definitely. Tell me, please tell me what to ask. You can ask. I want to tell me what the DM's saying. Just ask him. Oh, I'm going to ask him.

What did he say? He's stuck my dick, bitch. No, he didn't. He did. I'm like, buddy, you could have. You got to win everywhere. You got to win the face. off to stare down in the press conference, all the interactions.

Like, when you're fighting at this level, you want to try to win every level. That's why when, remember Henry and, uh, Henry? Sehudo and the guy, who was he fighting the one time when the guy walked up to him and shook his hand? And they had all this bad blood. Is it him? It was Aljo. It was like he was trying to out for him and he led him, right? You got to win all those interactions.

Yeah, I totally agree. So, yeah, when he kind of flustered, didn't know what to say, and then he told me to suck his dick, I'm like, oh. I don't know if that was the right word. word choice there buddy. Were you a little disappointed watching Henry lose considering that double champ history? That could have been a big fight for you. Yeah 100%. I was going for Henry that fight. I thought that could have been a sweet next fight. But, you know, Marab's done a good job. Marab's done, you know, fighting Marab like three fights ago is just like no one cares to watch you fight. Then he goes and does it against this guy, does it against this guy. So now it's kind of

at least a little bit more exciting because he's unbeatable. He's on a 10-fight win streak. So there's a little bit more excitement there now, especially doing what he did to Henry. So, you know, he's doing a good job. It's crazy how fights are built. I swear to God, like, that fight is kind of because he grabbed your jacket. You know when I fought? Well, well, first of all, I gave, I thought he was a door. I thought he was like a jacket guy.

Oh, really? I thought he grabbed the jacket. No, no, I took it off and I handed it to him. Because his nose is so crooked, I thought he was a door guy. So I handed my jacket. You can see it in a video. Really? I take my jacket off, hand it to him.

And I just thought he was going to hold it for me. When Derek Lewis said his balls was hot and he took off his, that got him a title fight against me. It's crazy how simple some shit happens. All right. Before I let you go, champ, we're in Miami, right? Big city, big time experience, you know, like the UFC loves this town. When this was on the calendar, was this something you specifically asked for? Because it seemed like this is the type of city that when you headline it, you need someone like you or at a sonya,

or somebody with a big following and a big personality. Did you ask for this or it just seems so perfect? Yeah, I mean, what happened when Izzy rematched Alex Paheta in Miami? He knocked him out bad. He knocked him out. UFC, when they come to Miami, they stack the card, regardless of who it is. And yeah, they want to top it off with a superstar. So it actually just worked out crazy.

You know, timing worked out. You know, Mevers Cheeto worked out. It's just sometimes stars the line. What is the expectation for Saturday? Like, how do you envision when you, you lay down in bed and you think about Saturday and you think about the fight ending with you and Marlon Vera how does it in for you with the ref pushing me off saying hey buddy you need to stop pounding on him he's not he's not here he's not awake he got to quit you know if he goes if you

you get him with the knockout boom when he goes back flat do you give him the follow up or do you let him live um historically you know when i hit eddie weinland I let him you know I saved him from the Thomas Almeda one. I tried. I'm like, hey, you know what? This dude's fucking barely blink in here. And they didn't see enough. So, you know, in the moment, I just kind of will, whatever happens happens.

I'd like to think that if I see him unconscious, I won't land another one. But the accidents happen. It's like you're not surprised that it's happening so you don't jump on them. Anytime I knock somebody down, I was like, oh, shit, it worked. Because it was usually wrestling, right? So you go hit them again. Guys, the Sugar Show, Sean O'Malley fights on Saturday night. UFC 299.

Defends his championship against Marlon Chito Avera. Hit the buy button, like, subscribe. Dude's got a real good podcast with his coach. Dude, I love you guys. Loyalty. Never leave this dude, Sean. If that guy lived in an apartment with you for $600, you guys deserve each other.

Loyalty is key. Get the pay-per-view before it sells out, remember? Watch my man, Sean O'Malley, Defends Championship. Hit that buy button right now so that you guys don't get locked out. See you this week. Until next time, Sean, thanks for checking. You can it with me, man. I appreciate it. Of course. Peace.

Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences,

having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, Listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.