“Suga” Sean O’Malley’s career has been on the rise since he first got on the UFC’s radar back in 2017 on Dana White’s Contender Series. Since then, he’s had an impressive record of 15-1 and earned a reputation for being a knockout artist, watching his opponents fall and casually walking away like it was lightwork.
When it comes to O'Malley, a lot of the time, there's talk about the kinds of opponents he agrees to fight and whether he should finally fight ranked opponents, but there really aren't enough conversations about his fluid and slick fighting style. Sean has a background in kickboxing, boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but a lot of his fighting tactics would have him fit right in with Jeet Kune Do.
Here are some of Sean O’Malley’s more JKD-friendly fighting techniques-
Progressive indirect attacks
Sean plays a lot of mind games in his fights and he’s a big fan of popping a shoulder feint and continuing to move, using uppercut faints to a straight jab, and overall continually using feints to get a good read on his opponent before attacking. In some cases, his opponent will start to get used to all the feinting and not react, and that’s when Sean will make his move and attack. It definitely takes a lot of patience to play this out enough and get an opponent to let their guard down to it, but the payoff has been worth it and has been a tactic that helped Sean win his fights. A great example of this is when he knocked out Eddie Wineland using this exact tactic.
Controlling the distance and footwork
Sean has a 72-inch reach and he’s pretty tall for the bantamweight division, standing at 5’11. He definitely knows how to use his height to his advantage. You have to really appreciate the small details and nuances in his game, and similar to the mind games he plays with all of his feints, he uses his footwork in the same way by continually switching his stance from orthodox to southpaw, shifting back and forth from his left to right foot, making it hard for his opponents to catch him or properly read what he’s about to do, and using his height to keep his opponents out of reach while using his length to land hard front kicks.
Sidekicks, oblique stomps, and more mind games
The oblique stomp (or oblique kick) is an often debated tool these days on whether or not the move should remain legal in the UFC, but as of now, it’s still fair play and O’Malley likes to use this vicious kick from time to time. In this setting, fighters legally need to land it above the opponent’s knee, but even then it’s still a nasty move that can really hurt your opponent. Sean is also a big fan of the sidekick, which was actually one of Bruce Lee’s favorite kicks. Because of Sean’s length, he really has the chance to move his opponent across the octagon when he lands it. He also uses the front kick a lot as a great tactic to keep distance while still causing damage. Using these kicks along with this elusive footwork, he has a fake where he pretends to look the other way followed by landing a kick to close the distance. In one of his more recent fights at UFC 260, he had an interesting tactic where he turned his heel, faking like he was going to do a roundhouse kick, only to land a front kick, completely throwing his opponent off.
Keeping the fight off the ground
Despite having a brown belt and extensive training in Jiu-Jitsu, a fight with Sean O’Malley doesn’t go to the ground too often. While this is sometimes criticized, with his record, it’s clear he doesn’t have any trouble finishing his opponents on his feet. It’s definitely a necessary skill to know how to defend yourself both standing and grappling, but at the same time, from a self-defense standpoint, if you can avoid taking a fight to the ground, there’s less risk involved, especially in the street, when you don’t know your opponent or if they have a knife. O’Malley uses smart tactics with his feints, footwork, using distance, and his powerful striking to finish his opponents without having to use groundwork.
In today's fast-paced world, parents are constantly seeking activities that can help their children develop not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. At the New York Martial Arts Academy, we take pride in our mission to empower...
In a bustling metropolis like New York City, where life moves at breakneck speed, and challenges lurk around every corner, women are constantly seeking ways to empower themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. For over three decades, the New...
Bruce Lee's influence on mixed martial arts (MMA) cannot be overstated. Despite being known primarily as an iconic martial artist and actor, his philosophy and innovative approach to combat had a significant impact on the development and...
Bruce Lee, a legendary martial artist, actor, and philosopher, is widely regarded as the pioneer who revolutionized the world of martial arts. His profound impact on the martial arts community and his ability to bridge the East-West cultural gap...
In the bustling city of New York, where life moves at a fast pace, it's essential for children to develop not only physical strength but also invaluable life skills that will serve them well in every aspect of their lives. Enter the New York...
Building confidence in a child’s life is a significant benefit that comes from practicing Martial Arts. Confidence is a very important factor in a child’s life when facing scenarios like bullying. A confident child is never a...
By Jessica Militello
The boxing world is filled with an immense amount of talented and highly skilled fighters, each with their own individual style and strength. Fans gather from all over the world to watch their favorite fighter—based on...
By Jessica Militello
The women's division in the UFC has grown tremendously since women first started fighting in the organization in 2013. Since then, there have been many talented fighters to grace the octagon, from Ronda Rousey to up and...
By Jessica Militello
There’s a lot of great documentaries on interesting and inspiring stories from the world of combat sports and the incredible stories of the fighters who are brave enough to step inside the ring. It’s hard not to...
By Jessica Militello
Francis Ngannou most recently defended the title for the heavyweight championship on February 22 at UFC 270 against the interim champion Ciryl Gane. Ngannou is known for being a knockout artist with punching power equivalent...
Originally posted on 05/29/2020
It is widely accepted by fighters and other people around the world that Bruce Lee was the most influential martial artist of all time. From his famous action movies to his unique martial art of Jeet Kune...
By Jessica Militello
Throughout the three decades of the UFC, there have been tons of historical moments and unforgettable upsets that shocked fight fans everywhere. These days, if you ask anyone what their favorites were, you’ll probably...
By Jessica Militello
Martial arts has seen a gradual rise in popularity for women over the years for myriad reasons. With the rise of professional mixed martial arts in the mainstream and the prominence of female champions like Valentina...
By Jessica Militello
The UFC recently marked the 28th anniversary of their first fight card on November 12, 1993. At the time, the promotion had entirely different owners and was a fight to the death with virtually no rules in a quest to see...
Originally posted on 05/09/2017
Martial arts serve as a wonderful tool for kids to build the skills they need to defend themselves and achieve better health and fitness. Martial arts teaches life skills that can help your child thrive...
By Jessica Militello
One of the UFC’s most legendary and respected fighters made a very long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 266 for a rematch with Robbie Lawler that was 17 years in the making and many couldn’t even believe it...
By Jessica Militello
Most fighters that you watch from boxing to MMA adopt a stance that is either orthodox or southpaw. In these combat sports, it has always been a tradition to stand with your less dominant side forward and your lead hand...
Originally posted on 08/09/2016
While practicing martial arts is an excellent way to improve your physical health and learn self-defense maneuvers, its greatest advantage is arguably in its ability to help finesse self-discipline...
By Jessica Militello
Every once in a while the MMA community revisits the debate of whether or not moves like the oblique stomp should be made illegal in the UFC.
The question has been getting attention again lately after viewers watched the...
By Jessica Militello
If you are looking for a martial art to enroll your child in, you may be wondering which style is the best for them to learn and have fun while still being appropriate for their age. Every martial art has a list of benefits...
Originally posted on 07/27/2018
Imagine being attacked. How would you protect yourself? Violence should be avoided, however, some circumstances leave one with no choice. Your body is the only weapon that you’ll have with you at all...
By Jessica Militello
There are several criteria that are a good idea to look for when choosing a martial arts school for your kids. Obviously anytime you are investing time and money into something, you want to make sure it’s the right...
By Jessica Militello
With all of the many choices of hobbies and sports to enroll your child in, it can become a little overwhelming to find the best one that both you and your child feel most confident about signing up for. Martial arts is a...
Originally posted on 08/11/2015
Updated: 5/19/2020
Most people have heard of someone who holds a black belt in karate or another martial art. These people are familiar with the skill and accomplishment it represents. However, there...
By Jessica Militello
There’s a lot of great documentaries on interesting and inspiring stories from the world of combat sports and the incredible stories of the fighters who are brave enough to step inside the ring. It’s hard not to...
By Jessica Militello
Francis Ngannou most recently defended the title for the heavyweight championship on February 22 at UFC 270 against the interim champion Ciryl Gane. Ngannou is known for being a knockout artist with punching power equivalent...
Originally posted on 05/29/2020
It is widely accepted by fighters and other people around the world that Bruce Lee was the most influential martial artist of all time. From his famous action movies to his unique martial art of Jeet Kune...
By Jessica Militello
Throughout the three decades of the UFC, there have been tons of historical moments and unforgettable upsets that shocked fight fans everywhere. These days, if you ask anyone what their favorites were, you’ll probably...
By Jessica Militello
Martial arts has seen a gradual rise in popularity for women over the years for myriad reasons. With the rise of professional mixed martial arts in the mainstream and the prominence of female champions like Valentina...
By Jessica Militello
The UFC recently marked the 28th anniversary of their first fight card on November 12, 1993. At the time, the promotion had entirely different owners and was a fight to the death with virtually no rules in a quest to see...
By Jessica Militello
One of the UFC’s most legendary and respected fighters made a very long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 266 for a rematch with Robbie Lawler that was 17 years in the making and many couldn’t even believe it...
By Jessica Militello
Most fighters that you watch from boxing to MMA adopt a stance that is either orthodox or southpaw. In these combat sports, it has always been a tradition to stand with your less dominant side forward and your lead hand...
By Jessica Militello
Every once in a while the MMA community revisits the debate of whether or not moves like the oblique stomp should be made illegal in the UFC.
The question has been getting attention again lately after viewers watched the...
By Jessica Militello
If you are looking for a martial art to enroll your child in, you may be wondering which style is the best for them to learn and have fun while still being appropriate for their age. Every martial art has a list of benefits...
By Jessica Militello
There are several criteria that are a good idea to look for when choosing a martial arts school for your kids. Obviously anytime you are investing time and money into something, you want to make sure it’s the right...
By Jessica Militello
With all of the many choices of hobbies and sports to enroll your child in, it can become a little overwhelming to find the best one that both you and your child feel most confident about signing up for. Martial arts is a...
By Jessica Militello
Anxiety can be very uncomfortable and scary for anyone to deal with, but for parents who have children who deal with anxiety, it can feel frustrating to watch your kids struggle with it, especially if you are unsure of how to...
By Jessica Militello
Warning: This article may contain spoilers if you have not completed the first three seasons of the show Cobra Kai.
While fans of Cobra Kai anxiously wait for season 4 after a pretty intense season 3 finale, it’s...
By Jessica Militello
Some of the most brutal and historic moments in the UFC have been from fights finished with knockouts using knees. Fans have a tendency to look at a fighter’s grappling, striking, and kicks, and can tend to overlook...
By Jessica Militello
For every UFC fight, the conversations in the days and weeks leading up to the event and thereafter always returns back to the debate of who has the best skill set to defeat their opponent and what tools really win...
If you have ever watched mixed martial arts, you’ve no doubt seen someone use their elbow at some point during the bout. These elbow strikes can be some of the most vicious and effective attacks in any fighter’s arsenal.
There...
The art of Jeet Kune Do created by Bruce Lee integrates all facets of combat. Various styles are borrowed from boxing, fencing, and other types of fighting. But one of the things that makes it truly unique is Jeet Kune Do footwork.
If you...
If you want to achieve success as a martial artist, you need to improve your takedown defense as a way to avoid being brought to the ground during a fight. When mixed martial arts (MMA) first started, skilled grapplers won many of the first...
When you use a knee strike or stomp, you get a low-risk, high-reward option for self-defense. With a head kick, the potential high reward is counterbalanced by the real risk of you missing and the attacker staging a takedown.
But even if...
Unless an attacker or mugger threatens you with a gun, most instances where self-defense is necessary will be up close and personal. Learning close combat moves is essential to protecting yourself in these dangerous situations. It can help...
There’s a saying in the martial world that says, “Either you move your head or he’s gonna move it for you.”
Effective head movement is used to avoid oncoming attacks and also to set up strong counter moves. It can...
We all know that martial arts help people of all ages live healthier lives. People often miss the many benefits of martial arts for kids in school. Taking regular Jeet Kune Do martial arts classes at New York Martial Arts Academy can help your...
Setting New Year’s resolutions can be hit or miss. If you are only jumping on the bandwagon, you won’t get much out of it. But if your commitment is something you planned out and decide to stick with, you could choose this moment to be...
Martial arts was initially seen as combative and puzzling. It was mostly learned and practiced by adults and was chiefly about self-defense. Martial arts has ever since grown from that stage of tiny dirty schools to schools teaching...
Bruce Lee often called his art of Jeet Kune Do, fencing without a foil. In this entry we will be discussing what he meant by that statement.
If you take a look at fencing and Jeet Kune Do, you will not a few similarities. One of...
A slew of Bruce Lee types, embracing both men and women, could soon be making their way through the streets of New York--but with an added physical dimension; expertise in rough, tough and often savage street fighting. In brief, those bad...
By Cass Magda
JKD has its own identity and follows a design with a purpose. It is a system. A JKD man's movement is definitely different and distinguishable from other martial arts such as Thai kickboxing, wing chun, or karate. The physical...
By Cass Magda
In the Tao of JKD Bruce Lee said, "I hope that martial artists are more interested in the root of martial arts and not the different decorative branches, flowers or leaves. It is futile to argue as to which single...
Jeet Kune Do is training and discipline toward the ultimate reality in combat. The ultimate reality is returning to one's primary freedom, which is simple, direct, and nonclassical. A good Jeet Kune Do man does not oppose force or give way...
1. SDA (Single Direct Attack)
A direct attack is composed of a single movement. The objective is to go to the target by the most direct route. Although it is the simplest of the attacks, it is the hardest to complete successfully because the...
Like the people who run most magazines, we at Black Belt love to look at surveys--in particular, surveys that tell us what you want to read. Back in the 1970's those surveys told us you were interested in kung fu and jeet kune do. In the...