Sean O'Malley shares honest update on social media detox ahead of next potential fight booking: "My higher self is trying to tell me something"

Sean O'Malley has put forth an honest update on his much-discussed social media detox ahead of his possible next fight booking. O'Malley asserted that he's already commenced the detox and expounded upon how he's feeling in its initial phase.

O'Malley's most recent fight witnessed him lose the UFC bantamweight title via unanimous decision against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 (aka Riyadh Season Noche UFC) in September 2024. The American later indicated that his training and performance were hindered by a torn labrum in his hip. 'Sugar' subsequently underwent surgery for the injury.

Earlier this month, Sean O'Malley set the MMA community abuzz by announcing that he'd be taking a hiatus from social media and won't return until after his next fight, which he's signaled could be in the first quarter of 2025. The 30-year-old implied he's largely deleted the social media apps from his devices and that his team would continue posting content to his social media handles.

On the Timbo Sugarshow podcast's episode #313 earlier this week, Sean O'Malley joined his head coach and podcast co-host, Tim Welch.

'Sugar' noted he's been reading, writing, and engaging in activities of that ilk more during the detox; which he feels would help him grasp what his higher self is attempting to teach him. He claimed he's already feeling better and opined that 2025 will be exciting. O'Malley stated:

"I said I was going to start in 2025, but I just kind of ... It feels good. It's been probably, like, two, three days. But I already feel just less -- or more disconnected from the internet universe, the universe internet. Because I'd be working out, I'd check my Snapchat, post some Snapchat, check ... Dude, it's like, even just three days or whatever it's been, I already feel like."

"The original reason I feel -- I don't even know how to articulate this yet. But I feel like my higher self is trying to tell me something. I'm trying to learn something, but I'm too distracted with and out of touch with reality to grasp what's trying to be taught from my higher self. I just feel like the only way to do that is just to disconnect from distractions. And, dude, social media is the biggest distraction right now for me," he added.

Watch Sean O'Malley's assessment below (4:35):

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Sean O'Malley aims to use detox to level up to fight Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov and others

UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili defends his championship against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025. During his aforementioned podcast conversation, O'Malley suggested he'd probably continue his social media detox even after his next fight.

Sean O'Malley even stated he doesn't want to do podcasts and interviews. Furthermore, 'Sugar' highlighted that he believes he's on the right path with his injury rehabilitation, physical therapy, training, etc. Deeming his detox as another important element that'll help him level up to beat fellow bantamweight elites, he said:

"I feel like I need to level up. Especially, like, we're talking about, to beat Umar, to beat Merab, to beat whoever's next, to beat these top guys in the world, you gotta just sacrifice ... You gotta be just doing everything right." [*comments at the podcast episode's 7:25-minute mark]