Sean O’Malley Insists Petr Yan Rematch Is Next for UFC Bantamweight Title
Sean O’Malley believes there is no debate that he should be next in line to challenge newly crowned UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
Following Petr Yan’s victory over Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi to claim the bantamweight championship, discussions immediately surfaced regarding his first title defense. While the broadcast turned attention toward Song Yadong in the crowd following Song's knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov, former champion Sean O’Malley remains fully convinced that he will be Yan's next opponent.
Speaking on Daniel Cormier’s podcast, O’Malley stated that there is no argument over who deserves the opportunity. O’Malley holds a 2022 victory over Yan and noted that both he and Yan have previously defeated Song. In addition to defeating Song earlier this year, O’Malley enters the title conversation coming off a knockout victory against Aiemann Zahabi at the UFC White House event.
“Petr beat Song when I was defending my title in Miami, so Petr already beat Song, I already beat Song,” O’Malley said. “I don’t really think it’s a debate or an argument. Song was in the building [at UFC 333]; they’re in your ear, it makes sense.
I don’t really feel like I have to push for it or argue for it or try to do anything crazy for it. I refuse to believe otherwise.”
O’Malley also expressed confidence that a championship rematch with Yan would set commercial benchmarks for the division, claiming it would become the biggest bantamweight fight of all time and surpass his previous bout against Marlon "Chito" Vera. The UFC has not yet made an official announcement regarding Yan’s next title defense.
Sources
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