Sean O’Connell talks 2022 PFL Season & Play-by-Play work

Read Time:11 Minute, 52 Second

Sean O’Connell is a former PFL light heavyweight champion and now calls the action for PFL hopefuls of the modern-day. With the 2022 PFL season readying to kick-off, there is a lot going on to be excited about as someone following Professional Fighters League.

I spoke with O’Connell regarding several of those topics and excerpts from our chat are below.

Sean O’Connell

That last season in particular seeing a huge leap in PFL’s domestic profile

“Yeah, I think in such a short span, they’ve done an incredible job of positioning the brand. The organization is in a really good spot for perpetual growth, hopefully. But also ahead of the curve so to speak. Where one might expect a league that’s only three years old to be. We got interrupted like a bunch of people did by the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that set things back a little bit. But this past season that you’re referring to where you had some of the best fights we’ve ever seen.”

“You had great storylines, like Bruno Cappelozza. Ray Cooper III winning his second championship, Kayla Harrison, winning her second championship. Anthony Pettis, coming into the season and then being upset. Fabricio Werdum coming into the season and then being upset. Rory MacDonald coming into the season and being upset. I think it really legitimized some of the PFL talent pool. Hopefully, built on a nice platform we can continue to expand.”

The concept of PFL UK and PFL Africa ideally coming to fruition sooner than later

“Yeah, it does sound very exciting and unfortunately those decisions are made above my paygrade. But you get the inklings, the rumblings behind the scenes that we may be able to go overseas for a couple of shows this year. Then next year in season five, maybe even a few more. Obviously everyone has to be mindful scheduling wise right now of the continuing COVID situation. So that may or may not affect some of the plans to do some shows in the UK.”

“I know that they’re very seriously considering a show in Africa this year. I hope that happens. I’ve lived there. I have spent some time in Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania in Namibia. Love the African people. I love the African continent. It would be huge for the PFL to get over there and establish a domestic audience there. So I’m hoping it happens.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “But one thing that I applaud the PFL for is always making sure that the efficient choice is the one that’s made. The safe choice is the one that’s made. So everybody knock on wood. Do what you can to slow this pandemic down or get rid of it altogether. Hopefully we can all enjoy things like trips to the UK and Africa.”

The PFL Challenger Series

The PFL Challenger Series providing an opportunity for newer fighters to garner a PFL contract

“Yeah, I think it’s a great idea. Obviously, we’ve seen some other organizations do similar things where you need a farm system, right? Pro baseball has their triple A, double A, single A farm system, the basketball situation where Euro league feeds into the NBA now. The NBA has it’s own developmental league called the G League. The NFL uses college football as a developmental league, which is it’s own conversation.”

“But if you’re going to continue to grow a sport, you’ve got to foster and develop talent on the lower levels. It’s not as sexy of an endeavor and it’s not as exciting for the casual fan. But people seem to forget that every superstar fighter that you know came from a place where nobody knew their name. Whether it was 10 years ago, five years ago, two years ago. Everybody started in the spot where nobody knew who they were. Nobody was excited about watching them fight.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “They probably didn’t have a platform like we’re gonna have on Fubo TV and on ESPN. And everyone starts somewhere. So I’m glad that the sport has done a better job of not only fostering that developing talent. But giving it a platform so you can grow an audience and grow a fan base a little bit sooner.”

O’Connell’s radio experience creating a more fluid transition into his play by play role

“I think that my radio experience helps immensely. Obviously my day job is the spoken word and is sharing my thoughts. Having discussions about sports talk, reacting on the fly to breaking news, things like that. I have had some pretty limited experience on the more traditional sports front. Doing some play-by-play and color analyst work.”

“I really love it and I figured in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, guys like me, and I think it’s totally justified. I’m not mad about this. I don’t complain about this. But when I was in the UFC, I would ask them for these opportunities, right? Like, hey, put me on an analyst desk or let me do some color analyst work on a broadcast. Justifiably I think they were like what are you talking about, man? You don’t even have a winning record in the UFC.”

“We’re not gonna make you the face of anything. No one cares what you have to say about this. I realized that if I was ever going to make a transition into broadcasting the sport that I love so much, I probably needed to do it as a play by play man. Because no one is ever going to call for Sean O’Connell to be the analyst instead of Randy Couture. Or instead of Anthony Pettis, or instead of Kenny Florian. There’s guys who’ve had longer, more sustainable high levels of success that have been bigger personalities.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “Those are the individuals that are going to get the analyst jobs. It’s like that in every single sport. When you watch football or basketball, the color analysts are people who are Hall of Famers. There are people who are coaches who also played. They’re people who are just firmly deeply established as thought leaders, as minds, and as voices in the sport. And I realized that if I was gonna find a niche, that play by play was probably the best place to do it.”

“Because I had a broadcasting background, I figured the transition would be a lot easier for me. And I think that we’ve proven that out. Obviously, the PFL went out on a limb to give me the opportunity. I think I’ve made good on that. I think we do a really good job and we’re getting even better. So it’s worked out nicely for everyone.”

The intimate localized insights of a former PFL champion documenting the journeys of all these fighters from the broadcast booth

“Yeah, I hope that’s how it comes across. The job of the broadcast team is to be storytellers, or to enhance the story that you’re already watching unfold. One thing in MMA, there’s not really a very solid delineation in live action. Between who’s supposed to be calling the action and who’s supposed to be commenting on what’s going on.”

“Even the best broadcast teams, when a knockout happens there’s three people yelling at you, right? It’s like oh my goodness, what’s happening?! That just doesn’t occur in other sports. Maybe that’s why people like MMA broadcasts and boxing broadcasts. Because that line gets blurred a little bit. But I appreciate that. Me being a former fighter, having been through a PFL season and working alongside people like Randy Couture and Kenny Florian.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “Yves Edwards before them and Bas Rutten before that even. That allows you to just really tell a story from multiple perspectives. If I can step out of the play by play role for 10 or 15 or 30 seconds and be more of an analyst on that, I think it’s okay. As long as I don’t get wild, right. I need to talk less on broadcasts probably. But it is good to have that knowledge and to know what questions I need to set the guys up with.”

The compounding sense of enjoyment as the years go on from his PFL championship win

“It was a huge night for me. That was three years ago now which is crazy. In some respects, it doesn’t feel like it should be that long ago. In other respects, it feels like it’s even longer. My life has changed very drastically. When I fought that fight, I had no children. Now I have two children. I’ve bought a house since then, I’ve gotten a new job since then. A lot of things have happened. I’ve obviously taken on the main play-by-play role for the PFL which is my favorite thing that I do professionally right now.”

“So a lot has happened since then. It makes it feel a little bit further away than it even was. But it’s great to look back on it. As I see more and more people retiring and then coming back. Thinking about coming back or they retire from mixed martial arts and then end up in Bare Knuckle boxing or whatever else.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “I’m very pleased with the way that my story ended. If I could go back and I could change some early chapters, even like my tenure in the UFC, I absolutely would. There were things that I would do differently. But when it comes to the PFL and that last chapter of my career, I’m still very, very happy with the way that it played out. I wouldn’t do a thing differently.”

His rapport with Kayla Harrison and the Mean Gene-Hulk Hogan vibe they give off

“(laughs) Oh, man. I can’t live up to Mean Gene. But Kayla’s every bit of Hulk Hogan. She’s so fascinating. One of the most impressive athletes I’ve ever been around. I’ve played football with guys who are NFL Hall of Famers and all that kind of stuff. She’s a really, really impressive individual. So I enjoy our little back and forth.”

“She makes me feel like an idiot. Every time I ask her a question, which is kind of fun at this point. But I hope that she and I get to work alongside each other one way or another for years to come.”

The 2022 PFL season

If there’s any particular aspect of this looming 2022 PFL season that is especially catching O’Connell’s intrigue

“I’m very excited to see Ray’s continuation. I think that Ray Cooper III is a top five welterweight in the world. I know that the PFL and Ray Sefo tried very hard to bring in talent that allows Ray to test himself on that level. I’m super impressed with his punching power. Obviously, his wrestling ability, the way that he’s developed his skill set and his mindset. To where he’ll fight the smart fight for a round or two when he needs to.”

“He can flip that switch and become just an absolute monster of a puncher when he needs to get a finish. I’m just so impressed with that guy. He has been in every PFL championship so far. He lost the championship in season one, he won it in season two and season three. What’s gonna happen in season four? Does he stay as hungry? Does he continue to develop? People might not realize this. Ray, he’s 30 years old, not even 30 years old.”

“Like there’s so much ahead of him in his career. He’s been fighting for a long time because that’s what his family does. He came up, his dad was a fighter. All his brothers are fighters. So I’m really excited to see what his career is going to be about. I think he’s only about halfway through it. Obviously, Kayla is a major story in the sport. And if she’s back inside the PFL smart cage, can anyone test her? I think she’s the most dominant champion that we’ve had.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “I think she’s the most dominant athlete in the sport right now relative to her competition. So can anybody test her? Then the heavyweight division is going to be really fascinating. Bruno Cappelozza has really found himself as a heavyweight. Dude’s built like an NFL linebacker. I can’t believe he ever even tried to cut to 205. I think that was silly.”

“He’s got speed and power for days as a heavyweight. Renan Ferreira is a six-foot-eight-inch monster. If he had been born somewhere besides Brazil, he’d be an NFL tight end or an NBA power forward. So like he’s an elite, elite athlete with some real skill. He’s looking to bounce back off the controversy with Fabricio Werdum and all that mess. So I think the heavyweight division is going to be fascinating for us as well. But I could go on and on.”

Parting thoughts for Sean O’Connell

“We’re gonna be on Fubo TV for the Challenger Series. For eight consecutive Fridays. We just go every Friday night and there will be a contract awarded on every single one of those challenger series events. Some of them are gonna be Claressa Shields type developmental contracts and some are gonna be invitations. To jump directly in to the PFL regular season. Which means that there are unknown fighters to you as a fan right now. If things break the correct way for them, could in the space of one calendar year.”

“Fight, impress the bosses, get a Challenger Series invitation, jump right in to the PFL regular season, and fight their way to $1 million dollars. Going from the regional scene to a $1 million major martial arts championship, that can only happen in one place. It’s in the PFL. So start watching on Fubo TV.”

Sean O’Connell continued, “Then of course in April, I think the 20th, it’s our first regular season event. It will be on the ESPN family network; ESPN plus, ESPN, and on ESPN 2. I promise you the product is getting better and better every single year. So jump on early.”

About Post Author

The Scrap

The Scrap is a combat sports news hub dedicated to bringing you creative MMA, Pro Wrestling, Bare Knuckle, and Boxing content. We choose highlight the indie and regional scenes as passionately as the big leagues. Aside from exclusives on our Patreon account, we also provide video content on our YouTube channel ranging from interviews to highlighting current events.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %

About Post Author

Average Rating

5 Star
0%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%

Leave a Reply

Previous post Micahel Bisping wouldn’t be surprised if Bobby Green defeats Islam Makhachev at UFC Vegas 48
Next post Joanna Jedrzejczyk talks Zhang Weili rematch, and future in MMA