Sparring between fighters is often a very competitive event. That competitiveness is improved when it’s between two current champions. UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is calling out UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley over a secret sparring session. According to the Brazilian, he dominated “Suga” years before their title reigns.
Alexandre Pantoja and O’Malley now rule the flyweight and bantamweight divisions, respectively. But back in 2017, they crossed paths as up-and-comers on very different paths. The Brazilian fighter recalled soundly defeating the brash American in a training session. However, as per Pantoja, O’Malley has kept video evidence of the beating under wraps.
I have some history with him. Before I started talking about O’Malley, he talked first about me, and I didn’t understand how he talked about me. I sparred with him six years ago for my first UFC fight, and he said some bad things about that. That’s crazy. He recorded the sparring, and he never passed the training.
Alexandre Pantoja via The New York Post Sports
Pantoja claimed that he had also asked Sean O’Malley‘s friend, Henry Cejudo, to intervene at the time. But Cejudo allegedly responded that O’Malley was not going to send it to him as Pantoja had ‘smashed’ him. Pantoja is usually very mild-mannered, but O’Malley has gotten on his nerves. He seemed legitimately annoyed O’Malley had hidden proof of his younger self’s dominance.
Alexandre Pantoja describes the time he sparred Sean O’Malley 6 years ago and “smashed” him:
“I have some history with [O’Malley]… I [sparred] with him like 6 years ago for my first UFC fight, and he said some bad things about that.
That’s crazy because he recorded the… pic.twitter.com/QSM9w7cKQg
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 30, 2024
Pantoja is now set to fight Steve Erceg this weekend. Pantoja had expressed interest in moving up in weight. He claimed that he would do so only to challenge O’Malley. The two elite athletes have clearly leveled up their skills astronomically since. A lucrative cross-division super fight could enable both octagon icons to settle the score properly.
Sean O’Malley had some words for Alexandre Pantoja’s accusations
The war of words between the UFC champions continues to heat up. Sean O’Malley responded to Alexandre Pantoja’s sparring session accusations fiercely. Pantoja claimed he “smashed” O’Malley in a training session years ago. The flyweight king said O’Malley recorded but never shared the video evidence.
Sean O’Malley responds to Alexandre Pantoja’s allegations (via MMA Fighting)‘Suga’ adamantly denied Pantoja’s version of events. He said in a video response that he would post the video if Pantoja wanted to. O’Malley mocked the Brazilian’s recollection of their sparring session and claimed he knocked Pantoja out in Round 1.
Does he want me to post it? I finished him in the first round. Is that what he wants? I can post that. I wasn’t going to even bring it up. I was f****ng smoking joints the night before not expecting…I was not in camp, not in shape, and finished him in the first round.
Sean O’Malley via Sean O’Malley YT
The bantamweight champ is coming off a masterful victory over Marlon Vera. He said that he was clearly getting the better of Pantoja. It’s certainly an intriguing story, regardless of who’s telling the truth! No other fighters or training partners have come forward to share their recollections of the story. As such, the definitive truth will remain hidden until the video becomes available for viewing.
