The bantamweight landscape changed quickly after UFC 323. Petr Yan regained the title by defeating Merab Dvalishvili, and with that result came new conversations about who stands next in line.
Sean O’Malley suddenly finds himself close to that conversation again. His upcoming fight against Song Yadong at UFC 324 now carries added weight, as a strong performance could place him back in position for another title opportunity.
A Previous Result Still Lingers
O’Malley’s place in the discussion is tied to history. While he suffered consecutive title losses to Dvalishvili, he also holds a narrow decision victory over Yan from UFC 280. That result has continued to surface whenever Yan’s future opponents are discussed.
When asked about the possibility of revisiting that matchup, Yan showed no interest and delivered pointed remarks shortly after his latest win.
“I heard that he didn’t like the fact that I said he looks like a lady from a corner because of the way he looks and then he saw himself and was like, ‘Oh, maybe I was right’ and decided to change himself. I just saw a video of him a couple of hours ago. He still looks the same,” Yan said at UFC 323 post fight conference. “He didn’t change. What the heck do I need him for? I want people to improve themselves.”
O’Malley Reacts to the Response
O’Malley later explained how he heard about Yan’s comments. According to him, Yan’s reaction to the idea of a rematch was dismissive before the question was even fully answered.
“Tim (Welch) showed me this morning they asked Petr if he would give me a rematch if I beat Song or whatever, and Petr starts laughing,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Every time Petr’s been asked about me in a rematch even before this, he’s avoided it.”
Avoidance, Not Fear
While O’Malley stopped short of calling Yan scared, he questioned why a champion would brush aside a challenger he views as beneath him.
“I’m not saying Petr Yan is scared of me by any means, but he says I’m not deserving or not good enough or whatever. Wouldn’t that be a great reason to defend the belt? I fought ‘Chito’ (Vera). He says Merab and Umar could rematch, there’s that. But I don’t know. I’ve just got to go and get through Song. No easy task there.”
Despite the frustration, O’Malley knows the immediate priority remains unchanged. Song Yadong presents a difficult challenge and nothing else matters unless that hurdle is cleared.
As for Yan, his options remain open. Whether he chooses a rematch, a fresh challenger, or another familiar rival, the bantamweight division continues to move with O’Malley close enough to watch every decision closely.
