O'Malley expects stardom to grow 'as big' as McGregor's in 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley believes his 2024 campaign will be one to remember.

If he secures two wins this year - against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 in March and then in another title defense - O'Malley expects to have the same amount of star power as former two-division champion Conor McGregor.

"I would like to get another (fight) in by the end of the year and be the biggest star in sports - not just combat sports," O'Malley said in an interview with ESPN's Megan Olivi. "I think I go out there and put two beautiful performances together, I will be as big as Conor. The UFC has grown 40, 50% since Conor really was in his prime. COVID really boosted the UFC, so I have a lot more eyeballs, a lot more opportunity to become more of a star.

"When I say stuff like that, people always are like, 'Oh, you want to be Conor.' But he's the biggest star in combat sports. Of course, I would wanna be as big as him."

O'Malley has been considered a potential superstar ever since he earned a UFC contract with an iconic performance on Dana White's Contender Series in 2017. It took a while to rise up the ranks, but "Suga" reached the pinnacle of the sport last August, leading many to believe it was only a matter of time before he became a top pay-per-view draw like McGregor and Jon Jones.

In two months, O'Malley will headline his first pay-per-view event since becoming champion - and just his second one overall - against "Chito" Vera in Miami. Vera handed O'Malley his only pro loss to date in 2020, and O'Malley believes their history makes it a "money fight" - which, in turn, could make his star brighter.

"There's a story behind it," O'Malley said of the rematch with Vera. "It makes it that much bigger. It's bigger than anyone else in the division. ... I've never been this excited for a fight."

When asked if he has the same kind of financial goals that McGregor had during his rise - being on Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes, for instance - O'Malley said he "100%" does. In fact, McGregor's unprecedented success as an MMA fighter showed the 29-year-old that it's possible to achieve those lofty goals.

"I believed in myself and wanted to do stuff like that before Conor kind of came on the scene and did it," O'Malley said. "But the fact that he did it, it allows me to even dream bigger. Like, 'Oh, he can make $100 million, I want to make $200 million.' I can dream bigger now because of what he's done. I foresee that in my future."