Sean O'Malley’s first-round knockout victory over Alfred Khashakyan in Dana White's Contender Series in 2017 remains a fixture in highlight reels. He sustained an unscathed march within the UFC up to the point where his path crossed with looming nemesis-to-be, Marlon Vera. Prior to that, O’Malley radiated an unassailable front, rattling off 12 victories with nine finishes.
Under rather unfortunate circumstances, that impervious record met its reckoning at UFC 252 at the hands of Vera. An unanticipated pivot off his lead leg wrought significant injury, which was later diagnosed as a drop foot.