VIDEO: Sean O'Malley kicks Japanese influencer's ass in viral social media clip

Sean O'Malley kicked Japanese influencer. Photo: Reproduction

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The UFC's off-season often brings some unusual situations involving the organization's fighters. Former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley kicked an influencer's ass during an extravagant appearance on a show in Japan last weekend.

Appearing on stage at the Rizin event, during a Q&A session, Sean O'Malley was asked by host 'Joy' if he would kick him. This is something of a standard among Asian fans interested in feeling the power of athletes in combat sports, such as Alex Poatán recently did on your visit in South Korea.

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However, this was a little different as Joy seemed to want him to bring the phrase 'kick his ass' to life in a literal sense. O'Malley obliged, choosing his angle well before throwing a relatively tame kick that still startled the influencer. (see video below)

O'Malley shared the video on Snapchat with the hilarious caption: 'I don't know how to explain this snap fam.'

Fans on social media thought the stunt was bizarre, but it seems Joy saw it all as a joke, writing after the fact.

“I had the pleasure of emceeing Sean O’Malley’s fan meeting yesterday! He was so witty, nice, and sweet. I never imagined the day would come when I would have the opportunity to talk to O’Malley like this, having seen him compete in the UFC, so it’s truly an honor. Even though he’s a superstar, he’s so kind and polite to every fan. I thought his personality won over a lot of people’s hearts. Thank you so much for coming to Japan!” Joy said.

Sean O'Malley

Also known as 'Suga', Sean made his UFC debut against Terrion Ware on December 1, 2017 and won via unanimous decision. In 2023, O'Malley faced aljamain sterling for the bantamweight belt in UFC 292. He won the title by TKO early in the second round, earning him another 'Performance of the Night' bonus.

For his first title defense, O'Malley faced Marlon Vera in a rematch on March 9, 2024, at UFC 299. He defended his title by unanimous decision. This earned him his sixth 'Performance of the Night' bonus award in the organization.

For his second title defense, O'Malley faced Merab Dvalishvili on September 14, 2024, at the main event of UFC 306. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Before handing over the belt, 'Suga' published a video where he bids farewell to the title very unusual way.