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Peoria, USA – UFC bantamweight champion “Suga” Sean O’Malley and his longtime coach Tim Welch have officially entered the pickleball business. The duo has launched “The Pickle Dojo,” a new indoor facility in Peoria, Arizona, designed to merge the intensity of MMA training with the community spirit of pickleball. The venture represents a significant celebrity endorsement for the sport, positioning it as a legitimate cross-training tool for elite athletes.
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O’Malley and Welch discovered the sport eight months ago and were instantly hooked, finding it to be an ideal form of “active recovery” that complements martial arts training. “It’s almost like doing ladders… It’s almost like doing plyometrics,” Welch explained, noting the benefits for footwork and agility.
The facility itself reflects the personalities of its founders. Located next to their Red Hawk Academy, The Pickle Dojo features a vibrant 1980s retro aesthetic, complete with bright pink colours that match O’Malley’s flamboyant style and his fleet of luxury cars. However, the business model is shrewdly designed to appeal to the local demographic; Welch noted the gym aims to cater to the retirement community in nearby Sun City while maintaining an energetic vibe.
The project also benefits from a partnership with Proton Sports, which provided sponsorship and equipment expertise. While O’Malley is taking a brief hiatus from playing to prevent injury ahead of his UFC 324 title fight, the duo is committed to building a community at the Dojo similar to their MMA gym.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The launch of The Pickle Dojo is more than just a vanity project; it is a cultural bridge. When a current UFC champion invests in pickleball infrastructure, it helps dismantle the lingering stigma that the sport is solely for retirees. By explicitly linking pickleball to MMA training mechanics, O’Malley and Welch are validating the sport’s athleticism to a younger, more aggression-oriented demographic. Furthermore, the strategic location near Sun City ensures the business has a built-in customer base, suggesting this is a viable long-term investment rather than a fleeting trend.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.