Sean O’Malley Planning October UFC Return Upon Recovery from Foot Surgery

Sean O’Malley, the promising bantamweight prospect who rose to prominence on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, could be nearing an Octagon return.

“Suga” hasn’t competed since taking a unanimous decision over Andre Soukhamthath at UFC 222 on March 3. Shortly after that victory, O’Malley underwent surgery to repair a foot injury suffered in the fight. Now, however, the 23-year-old MMA Lab product is close to making a full recovery.

“I got an X-ray last time and they said, ‘Everything looks good, come back in four weeks and we’ll clear you. I know how my foot feels,” O’Malley said on the "JRE MMA Show” with Joe Rogan. “There’s days where it’s really sore and there’s days where it’s like, ‘Dude, it’s good.’ I feel about 80, 85 percent.”

The promotion initially hoped to have O’Malley headline “The Ultimate Fighter 27” finale on July 6 before the injury. Now, he expects to return to action at the Las Vegas-based organization’s pay-per-view event in Las Vegas on Oct. 6. He won’t be the main event in that card, which is expected to be UFC 229.

“I was supposed to headline that card; I was so excited for that,” O’Malley said. “I think next fight is going to be Oct. 6 in Vegas, the pay-per-view. Hopefully (I’ll) get on that card, but after that, hopefully headline my own. I’d like to fight two more times before the end of the year. (I’m) healing; everything is going good. So I’m hoping Oct. 6, and then maybe November, December.”

O’Malley is 10-0 as a professional, including wins over Soukhamthath and Terrion Ware in the Octagon.