In the realm of combat sports, Sean O'Malley’s name carries significant weight, but outside the octagon, his fame doesn’t always grant him special treatment, as 'Sugar' once found himself turned away from an upscale restaurant for failing to meet their strict dress code. In January 2023, a video of O'Malley venting after being turned away from a fine-dining seafood restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona went viral.
O'Malley, known for his signature funky and vibrant outfits, shared that he was denied entry for not complying with the restaurant's stringent dress code policy. He said:
"I went to Ocean 44, right across the street, and I walked in looking good as f**k like I usually do. They go, 'Uh, sir, we can’t serve you; we have a dress code.' I said, ‘B*tch, do you know who the f**k I am?' I didn’t say that."
The reigning UFC 135-pound champion added that he decided to take his business to a nearby Mexican restaurant, where his star power earned him a warm welcome and complimentary food:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
"We came across the street to Toca Madera, and they’re hookin’ us up with free food because they know who the f**k I am, so f**k you, Ocean 44."
Check out Sean O'Malley's video below:
Currently, O'Malley is gearing up to make his second title defense against Merab Dvalishvili in the main event of Noche UFC 306, scheduled to take place this Saturday, Sept. 14, at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sean O'Malley enters Noche UFC 306 fight week as betting favorite over Merab Dvalishvili
According to DraftKings, Sean O’Malley originally opened as a +108 underdog, with Merab Dvalishvili coming in as the -138 favorite ahead of Noche UFC 306. However, as the fight draws closer, the odds have shifted. With just six days to go, DraftKings now has the reigning bantamweight champion as the -135 favorite, while Dvalishvili has become the +114 underdog.
O'Malley secured the bantamweight title at UFC 292 in August 2023 with a stunning second-round knockout of former champion Aljamain Sterling. He then followed up by defending his belt with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Marlon Vera at UFC 299 this past March.
Meanwhile, 'The Machine' is riding an impressive 10-fight winning streak, most recently securing a decisive victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 in February.