Over the last 26 years a wide array of professional athletes have stepped off their respective playing fields and onto the beaches of “Survivor” to compete for the hit reality show’s coveted $1 million grand prize.
Former pro-athletes turned “Survivor” castaways have included pro soccer player Ethan Zohn (“Survivor: Africa”), former NFL quarterback Gary Hogeboom (“Survivor: Guatemala”), Olympic track & field athlete Crystal Cox (“Survivor: Gabon”), former MLB second baseman Jeff Kent
(“Survivor: Philippines”), late WWE superstar Ashley Massaro (“Survivor: China”), NASCAR driver Julia Landauer (“Survivor: Caramoan”) and late NBA star Cliff Robinson (“Survivor: Cagayan”).
Now, as the show’s milestone 50th season continues its historic run on CBS, longtime “Survivor” host Jeff Probst has revealed his interest in adding a UFC champion to the collection in the form of decorated MMA fighter Sean “Suga” O’Malley.
Jeff Probst Calls on UFC Champion Sean O’Malley to Play ‘Survivor’
Getty“The next athlete I would love to be on ‘Survivor’ is Sean [O’Malley],” Probst told CBS Sports at the UFC 326 event in Las Vegas on March 7.
Speaking further on his interest in having the former UFC Bantamweight Champion join a future season of the longrunning reality competition series, Probst explained, “[O’Malley’s] talking about, you know, that in between fights he does have some time where he recovers. And I’m suggesting that, Suga, while you’re recovering, come out and play this fun game and then come back and get into shape.”
Probst even revealed that he’s already extended O’Malley the offer to compete on the show.
“He thinks I’m joking,” the host added. “I’m not joking.”
“I think kids would love Sean cause he’s so playful, but he’s a badass,” Probst continued, praising the 31-year-old pro-athlete who recently established himself as #2 in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings. “And to a young boy or girl, that says, ‘Look you can be both.’ You can be amazing in soccer and kick everybody’s ass, and you can also be a nice person and be fun and go play a fun game like ‘Survivor.’”
O’Malley Says He’d Consider Competing, But Only After He Retires From UFC
O’Malley himself responded to Probst’s call to play the game during the UFC 326 event, admitting that while, “My soul wants to say yes,” he’d be “scared” to take on the challenge.
“You get in a ring with another human being trying to take you down and you’re worried about sitting out on an island alone?” asked Probst in response.
Given the stakes of his current career, O’Malley explained: “Right now, I can’t afford to not be eating protein. I’m too skinny as it is. I gotta keep this little bit of muscle that I have.”
He added, however, that he’d consider joining the show “after I retire” in three to five years.
Hearing that, Probst told the decorated fighter that it’s “only a matter of time” before he finds himself competing for the $1 million prize on a future season of “Survivor.”
“This is the birthing of your origin story on ‘Survivor,’” Probst told O’Malley. “Everything you’re saying is what people want to watch people do on ‘Survivor.’ And with you, you’re already loved for your spirit and your sense of humor. You don’t take yourself too seriously.”
Flattered by the host’s kind words of encouragement, O’Malley found himself asking: “Am I talking myself into this? I feel like I kind of am.”
“Start the clock,” Probst replied with a hopeful twinkle in his eye.
Probst Thinks UFC Fighters Have the Best ‘Skill Set’ to Succeed on ‘Survivor’
While it could be awhile yet before fans see Sean O’Malley step onto the beaches of Fiji as a “Survivor” castaway, Probst predicted that the athlete is well-positioned to succeed on the show, revealing that, in his expert opinion, UFC fighters have the perfect skill set to dominate the physical aspects of the game.
“They have so many skill sets. It’s not just boxing. They have to wrestle, they know martial arts and, I think, at least in challenges, ‘Survivor’ is really weird in that, one day you may be throwing something, the next day you may be untying something, the next day you may be crawling under something,” Probst told CBS Sports, proclaiming that, “at least from a physical standpoint,” UFC fighters are perfectly prepared to play “Survivor.”
“Plus, the other thing about UFC fighters,” the host added, “They’re in chaos, literally in chaos, and they have to remain calm. That’s what ‘Survivor’ is like socially. You are in chaos, stuff is happening all around you, but you can’t let anybody see that you’re upset or that you’re sweating about it. You have to remain calm and keep your group together. But you’ve got to be working through the chaos to make sure it goes your way.”
Regardless, it could be years before Probst’s wishes to see Sean O’Malley join “Survivor” come to fruition. In the meantime, be sure to catch new episodes of “Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” airing every Wednesday night at 8:00pm ET on CBS.
