UFC striker Sean O’Malley is keeping tabs on Zuffa Boxing’s progress and has declared his intention to crossover.
“I would love to transition into boxing.“
He even wants to compete against one of the sport’s thunderous punchers.
American 31-year-old O’Malley fought seven times before auditioning for the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, beating Alfred Khashakyan by first-round knockout. Since then, he showcased his hands again and again, edging Petr Yan and toppling Aljamain Sterling to win the UFC bantamweight championship, before coming unstuck to Merab Dvalishvili in back-to-back bouts.
He’s since rebounded with a win and remains one of the clear strikers in all mixed martial arts because of his long-range shot selection, ability to time, while using his height to punish mistakes with precision, as opposed to volume.
However, striking in MMA is a different beast than striking in boxing.
Regardless, O’Malley fancies his chances. “I’m so curious where boxing is going to go,” he said on his official YouTube channel.
O’Malley said he’s been watching Zuffa Boxing with interest, which is Dana White and Nick Khan’s fight league, which Tom Loeffler is helping run, too, with the Californian’s 360 Promotions roster — filled with stars like Callum Walsh and Omar Trinidad — seemingly crossing over to Zuffa.
The upstart fight firm already has two shows in the books, and signed the cruiserweight phenom Jai Opetaia, who debuts for Zuffa in an upcoming event against Brandon Glanton.
O’Malley, though, wants more. He thinks Zuffa needs “superstar” signings. “Someone that just captivates, someone that you’re like, ‘I got to watch him fight.’ The fighters they are promoting in the main events — I don’t know if that’s it.”
The MMA fighter may well add superstar presence himself. “Find me a 5-0 boxer [and] build me up slowly. I want to be paid reasonably … a few racks to fight a 3-0, 4-0 guy on Zuffa Boxing. I would love to do that. That would be interesting. I really feel that my style can transition. God, that would be fun.”
For O’Malley, Zuffa’s “potential” is clear.
He then revealed his dream fight in that sport.
“Suga versus Gervonta Davis, that would be sick. I would love to do that.”
O’Malley is currently without a fight as he only competed Jan. 24 — a decision win over Song Yadong in Las Vegas.
Davis, meanwhile, remains absent from sport as he faced multiple legal issues tied to an Oct. 27, 2025 domestic violence incident, resulting in a civil lawsuit and an arrest warrant in January 2026 alleging battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.
He was briefly arrested and released on bond, and the case has clouded his career.