Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley has confirmed that he plans to take an extended break due to an upcoming hip surgery.
O'Malley told online streamer Adin Ross:
I have surgery on Oct. 3. I tore my left labrum in my hip. That's the only reason I'm going to be out for so long. This surgery should only take two months to come back from, then a couple months recovery. A year is a long time, could be six to eight months. You never know.
As a reminder, on September 15 in Las Vegas, O'Malley lost to Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 306, losing his bantamweight title in the process. He has a professional record of 18 wins and 2 losses, while Dvalishvili stands at 18 wins and 4 losses.