Sean O'Malley's Coach Thinks Daniel Cormier May Hold a Grudge Against Sugar After UFC 333
Tim Welch, the longtime coach of Sean O'Malley, suspects that former UFC champion and commentator Daniel Cormier might have some personal issues with O'Malley, known as "Sugar." After UFC 333, Welch shared his thoughts on why Cormier favored another contender over Sugar for the next bantamweight title fight.
Yan Dominates Trilogy Rivalry at UFC 333
At UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, Petr Yan defended his bantamweight title by defeating Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy showdown. Despite being pressured in the first two rounds, Yan came back strong with precise boxing and powerful body kicks, securing a unanimous decision victory and leading the series 2-1. Yan had reclaimed the belt from Dvalishvili a year earlier with a dominant performance.
Cormier's Unexpected Title Challenger Suggestion
In his post-fight interview, Cormier recommended a rematch between Yan and Song Yadong, who was ringside and recently scored an impressive knockout against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. Yan had previously beaten Song by unanimous decision in March 2024. This choice puzzled many, including O'Malley and Welch, since Sugar had defeated both Song and Yan before, making him the clear contender.
Welch Questions Cormier's Motives
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Welch expressed confusion over Cormier’s pick and planned to discuss it directly with him.
"If you look back this year, Sugar has his hand raised in a unanimous decision versus Song Yadong," Welch explained. "Then at UFC 299, Petr Yan wins against Song Yadong. I'm curious if someone influenced Daniel Cormier since Song was there, but I doubt that. I think DC was pushing for Song because maybe deep down, Sugar rubs him the wrong way. Past little comments—I don’t know. We’re going to get to the bottom of it when I talk to him. I could be totally wrong, but it always seems like DC has a little something against Sugar, and he doesn’t like seeing him win."
Welch also suggested that Cormier might have thought Yan won their first fight because of takedowns rather than striking.
Welch Confident O'Malley Will Get His Title Shot
Despite the debate, Welch isn’t worried about Sugar missing out on a shot at Yan’s title. Their first bout at UFC 280, which O'Malley won by split decision, earned Fight of the Night honors. Both fighters have gained more recognition since then.
"The UFC knows what the biggest fight is and how sweet it will be," Welch said. "If you want to see Song and Petr fight, watch UFC 299. It wasn’t the most exciting match. I was surprised Petr Yan wasn’t calling more for the Sugar rematch. If pay-per-view points were involved, I’m sure he would’ve pushed for it harder. But now, he sees Song as an orthodox boxer who will stand in the pocket with him. He remembers how hard it was to track Sugar in the cage. That was the first time Petr attempted so many takedowns in a fight—probably ever. I’m sure he remembers how that felt."
Dvalishvili Loss Opens Door for O'Malley
The result of Yan vs. Dvalishvili 3 worked out in Sugar’s favor. Georgia’s finest had previously beaten O’Malley twice, leaving him sidelined from title contention. Now, with Yan’s win, O'Malley has a clearer path to challenge again.
Welch Sees Risks but Believes in Sugar
Welch praised Yan’s recent performance but acknowledged the challenges ahead.
"It’s scary because Sean is one of my best friends," Welch admitted. "I’m his coach, but going five rounds locked in the cage with Petr Yan is intimidating. Still, I think Sugar presents a lot of problems for him."
