LAS VEGAS – Helena fighter Sean O’Malley will return to the octagon on Oct. 6, on the card for one of the most anticipated events in Ultimate Fighting Championship history.
O’Malley (10-0) confirmed that he will face Jose Quinonez (7-2) in a bantamweight fight to open the main card at UFC 229 in Las Vegas. The headlining bout pits Conor McGregor (21-3), the most popular and polarizing figure in combat sports, against Khabib Nurmagomedov (26-0) in a match for the UFC Lightweight championship.
After earning a UFC contract with a knockout on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, O’Malley has started his career with two straight unanimous decision victories to remain undefeated. Quinonez enters the bout on a four fight winning streak.
O’Malley will fight for the first time after surgery in March to repair torn ligaments in his foot suffered while fighting Andre Soukhamthath at UFC 222. Since his days as an amateur fighter in Montana, his star has steadily risen over the past few years, amassing over 351,000 followers on Instagram and receiving a signature shirt from Reebok.
“I think my fight and then Conor’s fight will be two of the biggest fights,” O’Malley said on a recent ESPN podcast. “Obviously, that pay-per-view will be one of the biggest of all time and I can’t say it’s because of me, because Conor and Khabib is what it really comes down to. I was really hoping to get on the last fight on the FOX card — kind of be my own main event — but I think opening up the Conor card is something in itself.”
