AUSTIN, TEXAS: Sean O'Malley has developed into one of the most well-liked MMA competitors, not just in the UFC but throughout the entire sport. He has a stellar 16 wins to one loss record, but is now embroiled in an unsavoury controversy.

O'Malley, the newly-minted UFC champion, has said that since he "pays for everything," he is free to cheat on his wife Danya Gonzalez.

Following his savage two-round knockout of Alijamain Sterling in the UFC 292 main event on Saturday, August 19, O'Malley proved that the excitement around his name was well-founded by winning the bantamweight championship last weekend, as per Daily Mail.

Sean O’Malley practices open relationship with his wife Danya Gonzalez

The recently minted UFC bantamweight champion has been married to Danya Gonzalez for many years, and he once boasted that the two of them have "dope threesomes" together.

O'Malley's wife Gonzalez runs a small company in Arizona. She is 5 ft 6 in tall (1.68 m) and was born in the year 1991. However, there is no information available regarding her precise birth date.

In addition to being a business owner and hairstylist, Gonzalez has a cosmetology degree that she earned in 2011.

According to her social media accounts, Gonzalez has also explored competitive jiu-jitsu and is currently learning mixed martial arts with her husband, O'Malley.

Gonzalez launched her own company in 2019, a hair salon called Hairapy By Danya. She is American-born, of mixed ancestry, and identifies as a Christian. Gonzalez has more than 14,000 Instagram followers.

Sean O’Malley met his wife Danya Gonzalez at a gym

While training for MMA with his coach, Tim Welch, Suga met Gonzalez for the first time. Gonzalez confused O'Malley, who was perhaps 19 or 20 years old but appeared young, for a 15-year-old.

O'Malley and Gonzalez are roughly three years apart in age. They bonded at that point, and their connection grew over time.

The MMA fighter also revealed that their relationship began to develop after his coach urged him to approach his potential spouse.

In the second half of 2020, Suga and his wife gave birth to a daughter named Elena. O'Malley is very appreciative of his wife's aid in helping him while he was still emerging as an MMA fighter.

Without question, Gonzalez plays a crucial role in O'Malley's life. They also share an open relationship with one another.

Danya Gonzalez and Sean O'Malley have an open relationship

The UFC bantamweight champion earlier stated he and his wife have an open relationship. He admitted that his decision to continue their relationship was motivated by his desire to live and enjoy his own life.

O'Malley asserted, "Everyone has a different take on what an open relationship is," during a guest appearance on the 'Full Send' podcast. "I like to think of ours as just an open-minded relationship where we don’t own each other," he added.

O'Malley has admitted that he would be lost without his wife despite having expressed his doubts about being in a monogamous relationship. They continue to express affection and empathy for one another despite the difficulties in their open relationship.

Sean O’Malley can cheat on his wife as he's 'paying for everything'

On the 'Raw Talk' podcast hosted by Bradley Martyn, O'Malley ignited controversy by saying he could cheat on his wife Gonzalez, with whom he shares a three-year-old daughter, because he pays for their lifestyle.

O’Malley explained, "If I wasn’t paying for everything, if I wasn’t, you know, successful in any sort of way, and I was just like maybe an average Joe, I probably wouldn’t. It probably wouldn’t be fair. But I’m f–king King Kong baby."

"I treat Danya like a queen. If I get a little p–s on the side, what does that have to do with anything? I have testosterone running through my veins; it’s simple," the UFC champion further justified his stand.

Instead, O'Malley cited Andrew Tate to explain his viewpoint on polygamy.

"Andrew Tate explains it well. It’s status," O'Malley might have been alluding to this Tate quote in which he claimed that women give men status by declaring, "You know I got status, so I can."

O'Malley added that his wife is "never fine with it" and that she goes "through phases" when it comes to embracing their relationship decisions.

Fans criticized Sean O'Malley for his relationship choice

Fans immediately criticized O'Malley for his stance, with one writing, "That's disgusting." A second one seethed, "Wild a** take. why get married at that point? you should never cheat on ur wife. period."

A third one exclaimed, "This guys a real treat , will end up broke and without wife in no time."

Another one said, "I’d hope this is some weird publicity stunt cause theres no way he genuinely thinks this way.. dude even admitted he couldn’t justify or want it happening to him if it were the other way around."

Someone else exclaimed, "Bruh they have a kid. She doesn't have time to do the house thing and raise a kid and cheat. She simply feels trapped. She has his kid and is now watching him get attention left and right."