One of Ryan Ibsen’s former MMA opponents has a very familiar name – UFC World Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley.
Ibsen fought O’Malley twice in the amateur ranks in 2014, unfortunately dropping both bouts.
“He’s the fastest human being that I’ve ever seen,” Ibsen says with a laugh. “I kind of shrugged off the first fight – losses happen. We ended up fighting a few months later after he had started training at the MMA Lab in Arizona. The way he hit me in that second fight – I’d never been hit like that in my life.”
Ibsen would love an eventual rematch with O’Malley in the BKFC Squared Circle, but he admits that’s unlikely. Regardless, he’s content preparing for his fight against Hasan Al-Ghanim (1-0) on Saturday in the Co-Main Event of the BKFC Prospect Series at the iconic River Cree Resort & Casino in Edmonton, Canada, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
Ibsen is a friend and training partner of “King” Kai Stewart, the defending BKFC World Featherweight Champion. He’d be honored to follow in Stewart’s path to BKFC gold, but he admittedly has other ambitions in the Squared Circle.
“I just want to get bloody – I’m just here for the thrill of the fight. I could talk about wanting belts and other accolades like that, but this is still just my second fight with the organization,” he says.
“I have full confidence in what I do. I know I’m going to go out there and put on an amazing show for the fans. I’m very proud of Kai and I’m happy for what he’s accomplished, but I just want to go out there and have exciting fights that bring the fans to their feet.”
