Sean O’Malley, the colorful and charismatic UFC bantamweight fighter known as “Sugar,” has made waves both inside and outside the Octagon. His penchant for highlight-reel-worthy knockouts and unique style quickly catapulted him into the spotlight. But it’s not just his fighting skills that have contributed to his financial success.
The Tax Conundrum
In a recent interview on Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk, O’Malley dropped a bombshell: he paid more in taxes than he earned from fighting in 2023. Let that sink in for a moment. The man who steps into the cage, risking life and limb, found himself writing bigger checks to the IRS than the ones he received from the UFC.
Sean O’Malley’s fight earnings are nothing to scoff at. For his title-winning effort at UFC 292, he pocketed a flat $500,000. But that’s where the story takes an interesting twist. The fighter revealed that his social media income tripled his fight earnings. Yes, you read that correctly—triple!
Sean O'Malley says he's paid more in taxes than he got paid for fighting in 2023
"I've paid more in taxes than I made last year in my fight, and I made a lot of money fighting. But I made triple that from social media."
🎥 @RealRawtalk #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/F3lVOg5dmM
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 8, 2024
Sean O’Malley Utilises The Power of Social Media
Sean O’Malley has leveraged his popularity into a multi-faceted empire. Beyond the Octagon, he hosts a popular podcast, maintains a bustling YouTube channel, and engages with fans across various social media platforms. Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter—you name it, he’s there. And those platforms have become lucrative sources of revenue.
“I made a lot of money fighting,” O’Malley explained. “But I made triple that from social media. From Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter—all these different social medias. It just depends on what these guys’ goals are.”
The Merab Dvalishvili Showdown
Since defeating Aljamain Sterling for the 135-pound crown, Sean O’Malley has successfully defended his title once. His next challenge? A clash with the division’s top-ranked contender, Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian fighter has been making waves online with entertaining skits to promote their upcoming bout.
“Merab’s on like a 10-fight winning streak,” O’Malley commented. “One of the most boring guys in UFC history, and he’s finally kind of changing it up a bit and getting some attention now. I think Merab’s doing a good job. I think people are finding out they gotta be themselves, and that’s why it’s working.”
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