Sean O’Malley says the UFC will need to pay him “championship money” to get him back in the cage following his walk-off knockout of Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250, and he is already frustrated after being passed over for a post-fight bonus despite one of the night’s most highlight-worthy finishes.
O’Malley told Megan Olivi in a Paramount interview that pay is the determining factor for what comes next.
“Honestly, it comes down to pay. I’m not gonna — I think that’s kind of what it comes down to. If I’m gonna get paid championship money to fight a championship-level guy next, I’ll do it. If not, I want the championship money. I want that back.”
O’Malley did not receive a Performance of the Night bonus despite the knockout, which carried a $425,000 payout for the event. Justin Gaethje picked up both Performance of the Night bonuses for his title-winning performance over Ilia Topuria, which also earned Fight of the Night.
O’Malley entered UFC Freedom 250 outside the bantamweight title picture after consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili. Back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and now Zahabi have rebuilt his position. He is targeting a rematch with Petr Yan, who defeated Dvalishvili in December to claim the belt.